Capernaum: First-Century Fishing Village or Polis? Part IV
Capernaum is one of my favorite locations in the biblical accounts.
Capernaum was the largest of the sea ports on the Galilee having a promenade along the Sea for more than 2,500 feet. Looking at the map, one may see Capernaum in comparison to the other sea-port villages of the Galilee. It is centralized at the north of the Galilee and nearest to the crossing between the properties of Herod Philip and Herod Antipas, therefore giving the area access to the Roman road leading from Egypt to Damascus. The sea wall at Capernaum was eight feet wide and there were several piers extending over one hundred feet into the lake. This indicates that Capernaum was a shipping port of both people and products. Matthew would have made a fortune collecting taxes for both produce and people traveling.
The road system was well established. Capernaum was well-located both on the sea and within a short distance of the Roman road making it a commercial center for Northern Israel. The main road through Capernaum came alongside the synagogue and continued until it reached the sea. Both sides of this street were established with businesses where merchants could sell to those arriving/exiting at the Capernaum port or those meeting with the established road north of the city.
~serapha~
Capernaum was the largest of the sea ports on the Galilee having a promenade along the Sea for more than 2,500 feet. Looking at the map, one may see Capernaum in comparison to the other sea-port villages of the Galilee. It is centralized at the north of the Galilee and nearest to the crossing between the properties of Herod Philip and Herod Antipas, therefore giving the area access to the Roman road leading from Egypt to Damascus. The sea wall at Capernaum was eight feet wide and there were several piers extending over one hundred feet into the lake. This indicates that Capernaum was a shipping port of both people and products. Matthew would have made a fortune collecting taxes for both produce and people traveling.
The road system was well established. Capernaum was well-located both on the sea and within a short distance of the Roman road making it a commercial center for Northern Israel. The main road through Capernaum came alongside the synagogue and continued until it reached the sea. Both sides of this street were established with businesses where merchants could sell to those arriving/exiting at the Capernaum port or those meeting with the established road north of the city.
~serapha~
posted by ~serapha~ at 8:15 PM
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