Archaeology: Caesarea Philippi

Caesarea Philippi is the site of a spring known as Panias, after Pan, the Greek god of the shepherds. In ancient times, it was a giant spring, gushing from a cave in the limestone rock, which is the source of the stream Nahal Senir. The Jordan River arises from this spring and two others at the base of Mount Hermon.

Excavations since 1990 have recovered much of the city of Caesarea Philippi from Jesus’ day. A large palace was found which matches Josephus’ descriptions of that of Herod Agrippa II, a descendant of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa II was the governor of Galilee before whom Paul gave a defense of the gospel (Acts 26:2-29).

Kyle Campbell