And it came about on the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. And they put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 1 Samuel 31:8 and 10, David, wrote "O daughters of Israel weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your ap

A model of the Roman city of Beth-shan showing the theater and a Roman temple at the top of the tell.

A view of the Roman theater at Beth-shan.

A detail of the theater.

Our guide Stan leading the way down the main street at Beth-shan. The city of Saul's day would be on the hill or tell in the distance. The hill remains mostly unexcavated.

The main street at Beth-shan looking towards the theater. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 A.D. and was eventually abandoned. All of the columns were toppled by the earthquake and were restored.