Galilee's Ancient Harbors

The Sea of Galilee had many harbors and anchorages in Jesus’ day. Sixteen of them have been found since the 1970s. In January 1986, during a drought when the water level dropped, an ancient fishing boat was found in the mud between the harbors of Gennesar and Magdala. It was the first such find ever, and archaeologists have dated the boat to between 100 BC and 100 AD. The boat was 27 feet long and 7.5 feet wide. Such vessels typically had a crew of five (four rowers and a helmsman) and could hold 15 people, so this boat could have held Jesus and the 12 disciples. It can be seen today at the Yigal Allon Museum in Kibbutz Ginosar. The harbor at Capernaum, where Jesus healed Peter’s mother, was quite sophisticated. The beautiful little lakeside city has been recreated by Dr. Leen Ritmeyer, and can be purchased and licensed from www.ritmeyer.com.

(Friday Church News Notes, January 23, 2015, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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