Img. ID: 644

The remains of Hammath-Tiberias extend from the hot springs to the southern boundary of ancient Tiberias. The Bible and the Talmud mention Hammath as one of the fortified cities of Naftali (Joshua 19:35, B.T. Megillah 1,70) and as one of the Levites' cities (Joshua 21:32, Chronicles I, 6:61). Hammath is mentioned several times in the Mishna and in the Talmud. According to R. Johanan the place was called Hammath after the hot springs (Hamme) of Tiberias (B.T. Megillah 6a). Tiberias and Hammath were originally two separate cities each surrounded by its own wall (B.T. Megillah 2b) but they were subsequently united into one city, apparently in the first century C.E. (Tosefta Erubin 7:2). R. Meir used to preach in the synagogue of Hammath every Saturday night (P.T. Sota,1:4). When Tiberias became a spiritual center and the seat of the Sanhedrin in the third century C.E., the suburb of Hammath shared its prominence. With the abolition of the Patriarchate in C.E. 429, Hammath began to decline, but it continued to exist as a city relying on its hot springs. The Jewish community remained in the city throughout the Arab period until its decline in the Middle Ages. Two excavations were carried out at the site. The first was under the direction of N. Slouschz on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Society and the Department of Antiquities (1921). The second excavation was undertaken under the direction of M. Dothan on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities (1961-1963). In the excavation four layers were discovered. In the two upper layers four superimposed synagogues were found. The construction of the synagogue went through four phases (layers IIa-b, Ia-b), beginning in the fourth century and ending in the middle of the eight century C.E.

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