Magdala, Ancient archaeological site in Northern District, Israel
Magdala is an archaeological site in the Northern District of Israel, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The excavation reveals paved lanes, foundations of houses, and a rectangular room with built-in stone benches along the walls.
The settlement began as a Jewish fishing village more than 2,000 years ago near the Sea of Galilee shore. During the 1st century CE, Roman troops destroyed many buildings during a Jewish uprising, after which the village was abandoned.
Several religious communities value the site because remains from the Second Temple period were found here. Visitors today see a new church building standing beside the old foundations, where local pilgrims often gather and linger in the adjacent gardens.
A visit usually takes between one and two hours and includes both the open-air excavation and several indoor exhibition rooms. Afternoons can become quite warm, so sun protection and comfortable shoes are advisable.
Archaeologists found a carved stone block with relief images that may have served as a model of the contemporary Temple in Jerusalem. The chiseled patterns show columns and arches previously known only from ancient texts.
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