The Innovative Genius of Herod at Caesarea Maritima

Flavius Josephus records that Herod the Great created a harbour named Sebastos and a modern city called Caesarea. Archaeologists have been excavating the area now called Caesarea Maritima for decades. Here, Herod constructed a totally man-made port directly into the open sea, a totally revolutionary idea. He brought together architects, engineers, Roman master-builders, and Jewish artisans to construct his dream. His project was accomplished by the use of innovative Roman concrete which set quickly under water. It was immensely durable against the continued battering by the sea. Alongside he built a city surrounded by a protective wall, which comprised a temple, a unique terraced palace on an exposed site, a theatre, a hippo-stadium, and street system with aligned underground sewers. Herod brought together East and West, integrating the best of the traditions in a magnificent port-city. It became the centre of maritime trade between Rome and Alexandria. What remains of Herod’s harbour is now underwater.