Page 140 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

126 Archaeological Review

Inner harbor Decumanus maximus
Area 1 TeAmrepaleTP

Area ZCardo W1
Cardo maximus
a Decumanus S1

b

c with six columns on the front (hexastyle). The columns were coated with
a thick layer of white stucco, with fluting (Fig. 144a–c). Other items were
Fig. 144a–c plastered as well. Attic bases c. 2.2 m in diameter indicate a total elevation
a. Plan of the remnants of the Herodian of c. 21 m from the base to the top of the entablature. A statue of Augustus
like that of Zeus at Olympia and a statue of the goddess Rome, like that of
temple to Augustus and Rome and Hera at Argos, stood in the temple.
the surrounding compound
b. Proposed reconstruction of the The temple was situated on an elevated platform that formed the sacred
Herodian temple that towers above precinct (temenos). The western wall ran parallel to the harbor quay, and
the harbor the south and north retaining walls ran perpendicular to it enclosing two
wings – a northern and a southern – that projected westward, toward the
Recent excavations (2017–18) indicated harbor. The eastern retaining wall was curvilinear – an unusual layout. The
that the eight parallel vaults (shown in area encompassed by these walls was c. 110 m on the north-south axis and
Fig. 146), and six shorter parallel vaults c. 90 m on the east-west one. Presumably, the temenos was surrounded by
retaining the staircase, were originally porticos. On the north, there was an extension, probably of lower elevation.
part of the Herodian complex. These The western façade of this extension served as a nymphaeum that was built in
new finds are not shown in the present the second half of the first century and modified in the second (Fig. 145a–c).
figures
On the west, at the foot of the precinct, between the northwestern wing
c. Fragment of a thick layer of stucco and the southwestern wing of the upper courtyard, extended a rectangular
that coated the temple columns, in piazza measuring 23 x 80 m, which was c. 1 m higher than the quay. Built at
which flutings were sculpted the edge of the piazza, adjacent to the quay and on the temple’s symmetrical
axis, was a massive pier, 10 x 20 m, that housed a staircase leading up.
Access to it was from the eastern side of the pier. Thus, the rise began