Page 141 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich
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A Walk to Caesarea: A Historical-Archaeological Perspective 127
a
bc
Fig. 145a–c
a. Remains of a nymphaeum with niches for statues that was
installed in the Roman period at the foot of the temple
platform, in the northwestern corner
b. Statue of a goddess identified as Hygieia, the goddess of
health, holding a snake winding around her arm. Found in the
fill near the northern niche of the nymphaeum. In the central
niche, a statue of Asclepius, the god of health and father of
Hygieia, may have stood, but did not survive
c. A statue of the genius of Caesarea with a cornucopia near his
foot. It was found in the fill near the northern niche of the
nymphaeum
from east to west and continued higher at a 180° turn from west to east. This
massive pier supported a bridge leading to the temple platform. One may assume
that another pier, as yet unexposed, existed in the interval between the visible
pier and the western temenos wall. Farther east a series of six short west-east vaults
were built. Above, proceeding to the temple, the IAA expedition excavating at
the site recently (headed by Peter Gendelman, Mohammed Hater and Uzi Ad)
uncovered the lower part of the altar of the Herodian Temple, plastered and
