The most important burial place in
the Jewish world during the mishnaic and talmudic periods.
Click on the pictures to see a larger version.
Located in the western part of the lower Galilee and within easy access of Haifa, Beit She'arim flourished from the second through the fourth centuries when a necropolis was created deep into the hillside.
Beit Shearim is not mentioned in the Bible but began its history as a village in the Roman era.
Courtyards, corridors, and staircases lead to the catacombs with their burial chambers and stone sarcophagi. The chambers and sarcophagi are decorated with bas-reliefs, epitaphs, and frescoes. The mouths of some of the caves were closed with hewn stone doors, shaped to resemble wooden doors.
The Cave of the Syrian Jews contains a large menorah carved on the wall. There are also inscriptions in Greek and Aramaic such as "Let me return (to eternity).
This room was meant for the wealthy.
Most inscriptions are in Greek because Hebrew had disappeared as a spoken language, except for the religious services. Some inscriptions are in both languages and Aramaic is also used.
Some inscriptions are religious, some are warning about disturbing the bones and others are of a personal nature, "The Loved One rests here."
The coffins contain Jewish religious symbols and also some pagan mythological figures, such as Eros, Aphrodite and Nike. Such symbols were often used for decoration.
In the fourth century, the town was burnt, by the Romans during a Jewish revolt. A village remained, and during the Arab period the dilapidated catacombs were ransacked.
On the hilltop is a bronze statue of Alexander Zeid on horseback. Zeid rediscovered the Beit She'arim necropolis in 1936.
Equipment
Most of the pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 5, Tokina AF 20-35mm, using a tripod and cable release.
Film - Ilford Delta Professional Film 100 ASA.
Others taken with a Kodak Digital Compact.
Links to other sites
Beit She-arim - The Jewish necropolis of the Roman Period
Bet She'arim - Jewish necropolis