ABSTRACT
The Gospels locate the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry in and around Capernaum, the remains of which are located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Known as “Tel (or Tal) Hum” in Arabic (the “Hill of Hum”), and “Kefar Nahum” in Hebrew (the “Village of Nahum”), Capernaum existed for more than a thousand years, from the first through the tenth-eleventh centuries CE. During this long period of time the town experienced periods of prosperity when magnificent public buildings were built, such as the beautiful synagogue of the fourth-fifth centuries (see Figure 27, p. 89), as well as periods of decline and destruction. From around 1000 CE up to
grazing and by local fishermen.
