Caesarea

Past
WHO built it: King Herod.
WHAT is it: A city, including a temple.
WHEN was it built: 1 C.E.
WHERE: In ancient Israel.
WHY: As a tribute to Augustus Caesar.
HOW did he build it: Probably using both slaves and craftsmen to design and construct the buildings.

Present
WHO found it: Archeologists and American volunteers.
WHAT did they find: Coins, jugs, plates, etc. Also a dwelling area thought to be home to the early Jewish and Christian communities.
WHEN did they find it: The temple was found in 1995.
WHERE: At the seaside city and harbor of Caesarea.
WHY is this discovery important: King Herod's temple dates back to the time when Jesus was supposed to have lived (archaeologists aren't sure of the years). It can tell us about life then, and shows Roman influences on Israel. It's of interest to biblical scholars as well as archaeologists and historians.
HOW do we know about it: From the writings of Flavius Josephus.

Archaeologists have worked in the Israeli city of Caesarea for about 50 years, uncovering artifacts from both ancient Roman and Crusader times. King Herod built the seaside city 2,000 years ago, and named it in honor of Augustus Caesar. It was a walled city and had the largest harbor on the Mediterranean's eastern coast. We know a great deal about the ancient Roman city from the writings of Josephus Flavius, a Jewish historian who lived under the Romans.

Caesaria is interesting because it has such an important place in religious and political history. The archaeological work includes both underwater and land excavations. Archaeologists are now uncovering the ancient Roman temple facing the harbor that King Herod had dedicated to Augustus Caesar. The temple has been uncovered by volunteers, mostly American college students. They have found gold coins, jugs, and plates. The temple at Caesarea is one of many archaeological digs in Israel in which volunteers are allowed to participate. Digs in Caesarea are still going on.