Page 152 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

138 Archaeological Review
Fig. 153
Ashlar debris from the top of flow of water that was likely to hit the mole and undermine it. This also prevented
the northern breakwater
N the breakwater – c. 70–80 m – is quite close to the 200 feet cited by Josephus. A
0 5m
are three such sections. This is the breakwater (prokymia/prokymatia) mentioned by
Josephus. Beyond it, toward the harbor, sand borne by waves accumulated, creating
a strip of shallow water that restrained the brunt of the waves and forcefulness of the
the formation of a spray of salt water accompanying the striking waves, that could
have damaged cargoes and harbor installations. The overall width of the mole with
similar breakwater was not found beyond the western mole. Here there was no need
for it, since its direction was more in parallel to the movement of the waves, so
the crashing on it was less forceful. This mole itself, however, was thicker than the
southern one. Today all of these are submerged at a depth of 5–7 m, creating with
the breakwater a kind of bulwark 30–180 m wide.
The length of the northern mole was c. 120 m, and it started as well from
the reef of coastal rocks that protrude c. 200 m into the sea, to the north of the
Crusader quay of columns found within the current
harbor. Further on from there was a constructed mole
about 200 m long; it was 40–60 m wide and at its
western end c. 70 m. It was built out of two batteries
applying a technique similar to that of the outer line
of the curved western mole, in a manner that formed
three compartments measuring c. 30 x 60 m. Its
western end (area G) was constructed with forms of
the second type – without a floor. Its outer face was
lined with kurkar ashlars, measuring 1.2 x 1.2 x 5–7 m,
today submerged to a depth of c. 10 m below sea level.
Engraved on the upper edge of some of them was a kind of recession with margins
and a tiny round depression (Fig. 153). Incised at the edge line on the long side
of each stone were two sockets that were used to join them to each other with
iron joints that were fixed to their location with cast lead. These are probably the
remains of the tower described by Josephus, which stood, according to him, to the
left of the entrance to the harbor, sailing in.
The width of the mouth of the harbor was 7–8 m, maybe more. On the other side
of the entrance, to the right of those entering, were two cast upright blocks that
were set on the bottom of the sea and lined with ashlars of tremendous dimensions.
A foundation trench dug at the top of one of the blocks shows that it bore a
superstructure that has not been preserved. Perhaps it was a base for the statues
mentioned in Josephus’ description.
The Drusus tower – the “Druseion” – was set apparently on the “Harbor Fortress”,
a kurkar reef connected to dry land that protruded like an island over the water
surface. Some think it served as a lighthouse though this is not mentioned in the
description by Josephus. Still peeking out to the west of the “Harbor Fortress”,
under the modern quay, is a section of the Roman mole that belongs to the outer
basin. The harbor was mentioned and depicted on Roman coins as well as on lead
discs and tokens (Fig. 154a–c).