Khurvat Minya
Ruins of a grand winter palace for the Arabic rulers from Damascus. Built in the 8th C AD near Tell Kinneret.
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Background:
An Arabic palace on the route of the ancient road from Tiberias to the north of the sea of Galilee (Capernaum). It served as a winter palace for the Arabic rulers of Damascus.
A Khan (road hostel) was located nearby, closer to the hill of Tell Kinneret, but there are no traces of it today. It served the caravans from Damascus to Egypt.
Location:
The site is located at the north corner of the Sea of Galilee. While driving from Tiberias to Capernaum, after about 10KM and just before Tell Kinneret, there is a right turn to Karei Deshe youth hostel and Khurvat Minya. This road gets you to the entrance of Khurvat Minya.
History:
In earlier times the site was located on the major road that connected Egypt to Syria. It is very close to Capernaum, which is located 3 Km to the east. Jesus must have passed this very spot several times on his travels from Capernaum to the Galilee, Nazareth, Judea and Jerusalem.
In the 5Th C AD there was a Byzantine structure located here.
This site is an Arabic palace, built by Khalif Hisham from Damascus (724-742) to serve as a winter palace. It was built over the Byzantine building. The palace was destroyed in a severe earthquake (749AD).
The ruins were first excavated in 1932.
Photos:
An overview of the site from Tell Kinneret, seen in the center of the image. In the background is Ginnosar, and behind it - the Arbel Cliffs on the right and the sea of Galilee on the left.
Click on the photo to view it in higher resolution...
This is the entrance to the palace from the sea (east) side.
On the south side - the ruins of the palace.
The view of the palace on the west side.
West side window.
View of the palace from the west side. The sea of Galilee is seen behind the palm trees.
A view of the north side of the palace.
View of the east side of the palace.
Other References:
"Haifa" Dec 26 24, 1884
- Laurence Oliphant "Haifa, or Life in Modern Palestine"
His article was published on Dec 26, 1884, with the title "Sea of the Galilee", where he tells his readers about his visit to the site of Minya. At this time the scholars still debated whether Minya was Capernaum, the city of Jesus, or was it located in the ruins called Tell-Khum (where indeed the real Capernaum is located). His opinion that Minya was not the place, and he later visited that place.
It is a recommended book for the period of rediscovering the Holy Land. (you can buy it)
Etymology (behind the name):
- Minya - this name may have originated from the Greek word "moni" - a dwelling.
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