Archaeologists uncover ancient arena

JERUSALEM -- On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Israeli archaeologists have uncovered what they believe are the remains of a Roman stadium from the time of Jesus, where thousands watched horse races, track events and boat races on long, man-made pools.

The Romans may also have used the Jewish-built stadium to hold thousands of Jewish prisoners after they lost a battle, archaeologists said, quoting the writings of an ancient Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus.

The stadium was uncovered near the city of Tiberias, an ancient city built by Jews. Most of it has yet to be unearthed, but Moshe Hartal, the archaeologist overseeing the dig, said that it was probably about 200 yards long.

The large size of the structure, the semicircular shape of its walls at one end and the foundations used for seats led to the conclusion that the first-century building was a stadium and most likely one written about by Josephus, Hartal said.

An archaeologist not involved in the excavation, Ehud Netzer of Hebrew University, said he agreed with the assessment that the structure was a stadium.

Hartal believes boat races and water war games were held in one section of the stadium at a later period, probably the third century, since signs of mud were found there.

The structure was also apparently the site where, according to Josephus' writings, 37,000 Jewish prisoners were held in A.D. 67 after they lost to the Romans in a naval battle on the nearby Sea of Galilee, Hartal said. The old and weak prisoners were executed and the stronger ones sold off as slaves, according to Josephus.

According to Josephus' writings, stadiums during the Roman period were important public facilities, where thousands of people would gather to watch races or receive official announcements and see events sponsored by the Roman rulers.

Because of funding constraints, only part of the site was unearthed. Much of it will be buried or destroyed during construction of a hotel, but part will be incorporated into a spa to be built along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.