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Mount Arbel

Mount Arbel (Hebrew: הר ארבל, Har Arbel) is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel, with high cliffs, views of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, a cave-fortress, and ruins of an ancient synagogue. Mount Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai; their cliffs were created as a result of the geological processes leading to the creation of the Jordan Rift Valley.

Mount Arbel
Highest point
Elevation181 m (594 ft)[1]
Prominence380 m (1,250 ft) 
ListingWorld Heritage Sites in Israel
Coordinates32°49′28″N 35°30′00″E / 32.82455°N 35.49994°E / 32.82455; 35.49994[1]
Geography
Mount Arbel
Mount Arbel
CountryIsrael

There are four villages on the mountain: Kfar Zeitim, Arbel, Kfar Hittim, and Mitzpa. The peak, at 181 metres above sea level (380 metres above the surrounding area), dominates the surroundings (much of the area is below sea level), and from the lookout atop the mountain, almost all of the Galilee is visible including Safed, as well as Tiberias and most of the Sea of Galilee, and the slopes of the Golan Heights on the other side of the Sea.

History Edit

Dug into the mountain are a number of documented Jewish cliff dwellings, expanded from natural caves, dating back to the Second Temple period. The inhabitants built ritual baths and water cisterns. At different times, the caves were fortified and connected by an internal staircase. Some Jews also lived in houses built on top of the mountain.[2][3]

Hellenistic period Edit

In 161 BCE "Arbela" was the site of a battle between the supporters of the Maccabees and Seleucid general Bacchides, who defeated and killed his opponents (1 Macc. 9:2).[4] Josephus mentions in his Antiquities that the Greek general captured the many people who had taken refuge in the caves at Arbela.[5]

Roman period Edit

In 38 BCE, we are told by Josephus, partisans of Antigonus fighting against Herod who was conquering the land with Roman support, were either killed in their cave hideouts or committed suicide.[4][6][7]

It is also Josephus who, writing about himself in the third person, tells us how he fortified the caves and used them as storage base at the beginning of the First Jewish–Roman War in the year 66 CE, when he was in charge of the defense of Galilee:

"Moreover, he [Josephus] built walls about the caves near the lake of Gennesar, which places lay in the lower Galilee".[8][6]

Late Roman and Byzantine period: the Arbel synagogue Edit

 
Arbel ancient synagogue

Nearby are the ruins of an ancient Jewish settlement with a synagogue, built in the 4th, rebuilt in the 6th and kept in use until the 8th century CE.

Ottoman period Edit

The cave system was finally refortified into a cave castle by Ali Beg, the son of 17th-century Druze ruler, emir Fakhr ad-Din al-Maani.[6][3] Because Ali Beg belonged to the Maan dynasty, his castle was called Qal'at Ibn Maan, the "fortress of the son of Ma'an" by locals.[6]

Nature reserve and national park Edit

The area was declared a nature reserve in 1967, covering 1400 dunams.[9] The national park (8509 dunams) includes most of Nahal Arbel, that begins near Eilabun and empties into the Sea of Galilee near Migdal. The reserve covers the immediate area around the cliff.[10]

 
Mount Arbel (left), the valley of Wadi Hamam, and Mount Nitai (right) seen from across the Sea of Galilee

On the south side of the cliff, there is a gradual prolonged climb through agricultural and pasture land and from the peak there is a steep 400 meters drop. From here there are metal handholds driven into the rock to aid those who want to make the climb down to the valley below. Below that are a series of switchbacks that eventually lead to the Bedouin village of Hamaam.

Mount Arbel, with its 110-metre vertical drop, is the only known mountain in Israel to serve as a base jumping site.[11] A hike to the top of Mount Arbel from the south is included in the Israel National Trail, and an approach from the west is part of the Jesus Trail; the trails converge temporarily at the peak.

 
Panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee from the Mountain

References Edit

  1. ^ a b "Topographic map of Mount Arbel". opentopomap.org. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  2. ^ "Caves of Arbela: The ultimate hiding place". The Times of Israel. 2013. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  3. ^ a b Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve, at the website of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, accessed 17 July 2019
  4. ^ a b Negev, Avraham; Gibson, Shimon (2001). Arbel, Arbela. p. 47. ISBN 0-8264-1316-1. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Josephus Flavius. "Book XII, 11, 1". Antiquities of the Jews. Demetrius ... sent Bacchides again with an army into Judea. Who ... came into Judea; and pitched his camp at Arbela, a city of Galilee: and having besieged and taken those that were there in caves; (for many of the people had fled into such places;) he removed, and made all the haste he could to Jerusalem.
  6. ^ a b c d Jerome Murphy-O'Connor (2008). The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700. Oxford Archaeological Guides. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-923666-4. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  7. ^ Josephus Flavius. "Book XIV, 4-5". Antiquities of the Jews. He also went thence, and resolved to destroy those robbers that dwelt in the caves, and did much mischief in the countrey. ... They were very near to a village called Arbela. And on the fortieth day after he came himself, with his whole army. (etc.)
  8. ^ Josephus Flavius. "The Wars of the Jews, Book II, ch. 20, paragraph 6". Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  9. ^ (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  10. ^ (PDF) (in Hebrew), archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-27, retrieved 2010-10-06
  11. ^ "Mount Arbel National Park". israel trip planner. Retrieved 14 December 2015.

External links Edit

  • Detailed description how to climb mount Arbel

mount, arbel, hebrew, הר, ארבל, arbel, mountain, lower, galilee, near, tiberias, israel, with, high, cliffs, views, mount, hermon, golan, heights, cave, fortress, ruins, ancient, synagogue, sits, across, from, mount, nitai, their, cliffs, were, created, result. Mount Arbel Hebrew הר ארבל Har Arbel is a mountain in The Lower Galilee near Tiberias in Israel with high cliffs views of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights a cave fortress and ruins of an ancient synagogue Mount Arbel sits across from Mount Nitai their cliffs were created as a result of the geological processes leading to the creation of the Jordan Rift Valley Mount ArbelHighest pointElevation181 m 594 ft 1 Prominence380 m 1 250 ft ListingWorld Heritage Sites in IsraelCoordinates32 49 28 N 35 30 00 E 32 82455 N 35 49994 E 32 82455 35 49994 1 GeographyMount ArbelShow map of IsraelMount ArbelShow map of Northeast IsraelCountryIsraelThere are four villages on the mountain Kfar Zeitim Arbel Kfar Hittim and Mitzpa The peak at 181 metres above sea level 380 metres above the surrounding area dominates the surroundings much of the area is below sea level and from the lookout atop the mountain almost all of the Galilee is visible including Safed as well as Tiberias and most of the Sea of Galilee and the slopes of the Golan Heights on the other side of the Sea Contents 1 History 1 1 Hellenistic period 1 2 Roman period 1 3 Late Roman and Byzantine period the Arbel synagogue 1 4 Ottoman period 2 Nature reserve and national park 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditDug into the mountain are a number of documented Jewish cliff dwellings expanded from natural caves dating back to the Second Temple period The inhabitants built ritual baths and water cisterns At different times the caves were fortified and connected by an internal staircase Some Jews also lived in houses built on top of the mountain 2 3 Hellenistic period Edit In 161 BCE Arbela was the site of a battle between the supporters of the Maccabees and Seleucid general Bacchides who defeated and killed his opponents 1 Macc 9 2 4 Josephus mentions in his Antiquities that the Greek general captured the many people who had taken refuge in the caves at Arbela 5 Roman period Edit In 38 BCE we are told by Josephus partisans of Antigonus fighting against Herod who was conquering the land with Roman support were either killed in their cave hideouts or committed suicide 4 6 7 It is also Josephus who writing about himself in the third person tells us how he fortified the caves and used them as storage base at the beginning of the First Jewish Roman War in the year 66 CE when he was in charge of the defense of Galilee Moreover he Josephus built walls about the caves near the lake of Gennesar which places lay in the lower Galilee 8 6 Late Roman and Byzantine period the Arbel synagogue Edit Arbel ancient synagogueNearby are the ruins of an ancient Jewish settlement with a synagogue built in the 4th rebuilt in the 6th and kept in use until the 8th century CE Ottoman period Edit The cave system was finally refortified into a cave castle by Ali Beg the son of 17th century Druze ruler emir Fakhr ad Din al Maani 6 3 Because Ali Beg belonged to the Maan dynasty his castle was called Qal at Ibn Maan the fortress of the son of Ma an by locals 6 Nature reserve and national park EditThe area was declared a nature reserve in 1967 covering 1400 dunams 9 The national park 8509 dunams includes most of Nahal Arbel that begins near Eilabun and empties into the Sea of Galilee near Migdal The reserve covers the immediate area around the cliff 10 Mount Arbel left the valley of Wadi Hamam and Mount Nitai right seen from across the Sea of GalileeOn the south side of the cliff there is a gradual prolonged climb through agricultural and pasture land and from the peak there is a steep 400 meters drop From here there are metal handholds driven into the rock to aid those who want to make the climb down to the valley below Below that are a series of switchbacks that eventually lead to the Bedouin village of Hamaam Mount Arbel with its 110 metre vertical drop is the only known mountain in Israel to serve as a base jumping site 11 A hike to the top of Mount Arbel from the south is included in the Israel National Trail and an approach from the west is part of the Jesus Trail the trails converge temporarily at the peak Panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee from the MountainReferences Edit a b Topographic map of Mount Arbel opentopomap org Retrieved 2023 06 13 Caves of Arbela The ultimate hiding place The Times of Israel 2013 Retrieved 2023 06 13 a b Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve at the website of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority accessed 17 July 2019 a b Negev Avraham Gibson Shimon 2001 Arbel Arbela p 47 ISBN 0 8264 1316 1 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Josephus Flavius Book XII 11 1 Antiquities of the Jews Demetrius sent Bacchides again with an army into Judea Who came into Judea and pitched his camp at Arbela a city of Galilee and having besieged and taken those that were there in caves for many of the people had fled into such places he removed and made all the haste he could to Jerusalem a b c d Jerome Murphy O Connor 2008 The Holy Land An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700 Oxford Archaeological Guides Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 923666 4 Retrieved 17 July 2019 Josephus Flavius Book XIV 4 5 Antiquities of the Jews He also went thence and resolved to destroy those robbers that dwelt in the caves and did much mischief in the countrey They were very near to a village called Arbela And on the fortieth day after he came himself with his whole army etc Josephus Flavius The Wars of the Jews Book II ch 20 paragraph 6 Retrieved 5 February 2016 List of National Parks and Nature Reserves PDF in Hebrew Israel Nature and Parks Authority Archived from the original PDF on 2009 10 07 Retrieved 2010 10 06 Nature and Parks Authority brochure PDF in Hebrew archived from the original PDF on 2013 09 27 retrieved 2010 10 06 Mount Arbel National Park israel trip planner Retrieved 14 December 2015 External links EditArbel on Israel Park Authority Detailed description how to climb mount Arbel Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Arbel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mount Arbel amp oldid 1160010594, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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