By Ryan Jones
Tzippori, or Sepphoris, is located in the central Galilee and is one of the richest and most fascinating archeological discoveries in Israel. After the death of King Herod in 4 AD, Tzippori participated in a revolt against Roman rule known as the Verus War. The city was eventually captured and destroyed by the Romans.
Following the Verus War, Herod Antipas, ruler of the Galilee region, set about restoring Tzippori. Herod Antipas spared no expense on the restoration and beautifying of the city, prompting the Jewish historian Josephus to later dub Tzippori the “glory of the entire Galilee.” Tzippori was the prominent city of the Galilee.
Tzippori later gained additional fame when Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi moved to the city with the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious council), thus making Tzippori the seat of Jewish religious authority. Rabbi Yehudah completed the codification of the Oral Law into the Mishnah in Tzippori, and the scholars living in the city participated in the writing of the Jerusalem Talmud.
Under Crusader and Muslim control Tzippori lost its position of importance and became little more than any other town in the region. However, Tzippori’s treasures were safely hidden beneath the rubble of the centuries for us to enjoy today.
Tzippori is a virtual archeological playground. Some of the primary excavations are a 4,500 seat Roman theater with a spectacular view of the valley below, the Crusader fortress at the top of the hill, living quarters from mishnaic and talmudic times and a number of Roman-period villas. However, the most extraordinary aspect of the finds at Tzippori is the abundance of exquisite mosaic floors.
A number of Roman-period villas and public buildings (including a recently uncovered synagogue) feature the beautiful mosaic floors. However, one villa in particular contains a mosaic of a woman’s face that has been dubbed the “Mona Lisa of the Galilee”, so great and intricate is the work.
Tzippori is a site not to be missed, with a long, important history and a vast abundance of archeological splendors.
© Israel My Beloved
