Rome took the land in 63 BC, but the turmoil continued for decades. Until Herod started building Caesarea 40 years later, there wasn't enough security to found a city in the Roman style on the flatlands. The theatre must have signaled to people, then, that Rome had indeed arrived. Herod carved it into the kurkar ridge running alongside the sea, just as he did his hippodrome to the north. The cavea, containing the audience, does not face north, therefore, as in most Roman theatres, but west. The rows of seats are raked according to the natural rise of the sound waves from the stage, behind which stood an ornate wall that served as acoustical screen. The latter would have been vital here on days when the sea kicked up. Indeed, it was precisely the mimes of Caesarea who became world-famous in the 4th-5th centuries.

The theatre was rebuilt often in antiquity. On one such occasion, the builders recycled a stone with the following remnant of an inscription: TIBERIEVM ...IVSPILATUS ...ECTUS...   This is the only mention of Pilate in stone. He lived in Caesarea most of the year, and he must have dedicated a building here to his emperor, Tiberius. (Why then is he up in Jerusalem at Passover? Because there were so many pilgrims gathered there: he had to be on hand, in case trouble started.) At some point the Tiberieum ceased to function, and the stone was re-used. A copy is on the site. The original is in the Israel Museum.

 

An event in the theatre at Caesarea

As the architecture of Roman theatres became more splendid, the quality of the material performed on stage degenerated. The most dramatic event that occurred on this stage, however, was no fiction. It concerned Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great. He had been brought up in Rome. One day, a servant informed on him to the emperor, Tiberius, saying he had voiced a wish that his friend Caligula should rule instead. Tiberius threw Agrippa in prison. Some time later, a fellow prisoner called him over, pointing to a fierce-looking owl in a tree. Such an owl is called an "uhu" or "bubo," and it is rare to see it in daylight. 

From Josephus, Antiquities, XVIII 6.7 and XIX 8.2:

Now Agrippa stood in his bonds before the royal palace, and leaned on a certain tree for grief, with many others, who were in bonds also; and as a certain bird sat upon the tree on which Agrippa leaned... ( More... [Drag borders to enlarge window.])

The story is more briefly told in Acts 12:18-23

Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.

Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people kept crying out, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. 

Caesarea Maritima: Introduction

The Harbor

Caesarea and Christianity

The Theatre and the Death of Herod Agrippa

The Hippodrome (Amphitheatre) and Palace

The Aqueducts

Logistical information for a visit to the site

© 2003 Near East Tourist Agency (NET)

Text © 2003 Stephen Langfur