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Beth-Shan

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Archaeology

BETH-SHAN

Beth-Shan (also known as Beit She'an) sits at the junction of the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley and has been continuously occupied for over 5,000 years. Its massive tel — a mound of accumulated ancient settlements — is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the entire Middle East.

A model of Beth-Shan during the Roman period.

Detailed architectural model of Beth-Shan (Scythopolis) during the Roman period, showing the theater, colonnaded streets, and city layout

The colonnade of the city. The mound in the background is the ancient city where King Saul's body was hung on the walls by the Philistines after he died in battle.

Two visitors walking along the Roman colonnade at Beth-Shan with the ancient tel mound rising in the background

Market Street where people would shop.

Ancient Roman market street at Beth-Shan with rows of standing columns lining the stone-paved road

Market buildings where merchants would display their products.

Ancient Roman market buildings at Beth-Shan with arched stone niches where merchants would display their goods

Entrance to the Roman theater.

Vaulted stone passageway leading to the entrance of the Roman theater at Beth-Shan

The Roman theater at Beth-Shan.

Interior of the Roman theater at Beth-Shan showing the semicircular stone seating tiers and the restored stage floor

Beautiful detail of the theater.

Close-up detail of the Roman theater at Beth-Shan showing ornate Corinthian columns with pink granite shafts against limestone stonework, with a small child standing at the base for scale

Ruins of the public baths.

Excavated ruins of the Roman public baths at Beth-Shan showing hypocaust pillars and floor supports used to circulate hot air beneath the bathing rooms

Another view of the city.

Wide view of the Roman city ruins at Beth-Shan showing colonnaded streets stretching into the distance with the ancient tel mound rising in the background

Evidence of the massive earthquake that destroyed the city in 749 A.D.

A massive Roman column toppled and lying across the ancient basalt paving stones at Beth-Shan, evidence of the catastrophic 749 A.D. earthquake that destroyed the city

The destruction reminded me of the Atlantis story.

Giant marble columns fallen and scattered across the ancient basalt paving stones of Beth-Shan's main street, toppled by the 749 A.D. earthquake that destroyed the city

The city was abandoned after the earthquake.

Ornate carved Roman column capitals and architectural fragments toppled and lying on the ancient basalt paving stones at Beth-Shan, left exactly where they fell when the 749 A.D. earthquake struck and the city was abandoned

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