Caesarea Maritima was founded by Herod the Great, the Roman-appointed King of Judea, around 22 to 10 BCE. Herod was known for his ambitious building projects, and Caesarea was one of his grand endeavors.
The city was named in honor of Caesar Augustus (Caesar) and was strategically located on the Mediterranean coast, serving as a major port connecting the trade routes.
Herod invested heavily in the construction of Caesarea, creating a city with remarkable architectural features, including a harbor, a palace, a Theater, and a hippodrome future to be Amphitheatre.
The city boasted advanced engineering, including the construction of the harbor using hydraulic concrete, which allowed for the creation of a large artificial harbor.
In the 1950s and 1960s, extensive archaeological excavations uncovered the ruins of Herod’s city, providing valuable insights into ancient urban planning and architecture.
