The construction of Caesarea in the 1st century BC was a truly grand process. King of Judea Herod the Great left behind an incredible site on which archaeologists build their careers, while at the same time delighting visitors with the opportunity to literally touch history that is already two thousand years old.
Any city at that time was built according to certain standards, from which no one ever deviated. Caesarea, being in fact a dedication to Emperor Octavian Augustus, was created in the image and likeness of Roman cities. One of the important elements of the city's architectural ensemble was the temple. And in Caesarea, naturally, there was also a place for a temple, which we can still see now.
The Temple Platform was an elevated podium on which, at the command of King Herod, a magnificent temple was erected in honor of Augustus and Roma. Today we can only guess at its appearance and take the sources of that time at their word.
Later, a Christian church was established here, which the Arabs destroyed, and in the 4th century a mosque was erected in its place. In turn, the Crusaders destroyed the mosque and built a cathedral. As a result, all that remains of all this are ruins - sad evidence of people's disrespect for a faith different from their own.
