Khirbet Ofrat
An ancient city on the ancient road from west (Shefaram, Acre) to east (Sepphoris, sea of Galilee). The site existed for over 4000 years.
Home > Sites > West Galilee >Khirbet Ofrat (Kh. et Taiyibeh, Ofrata)
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Contents:
- Well - South |
Background:
The site is located on the ancient road from Shefaram (and westwards to Acre), and eastwards to Sepphoris, Nazareth and east to sea of Galilee. This road existed for thousands of years, and even today the road passes exactly at the site, slicing it into two. On this road are the ruins of a small city that existed for over 4000 years.
Location:
The site is located 2KM east from Shefaram, and the modern road turns around the site, on the north and east side of it.
History of the place:
The Tell was inhabited starting in the Middle bronze period (2200-1550BC), as determined by the archaeological survey. In the south side of the Tell, just above the ancient road that passes it, there is a high (3M) wall that was probably built in the late Iron Age (Israelite period, 1000-586BC). Scattered around the area of 20 Dunam (2 Hectares) are many fragments of ceramics, building blocks, and pillars. The findings are mostly from later periods: Persian, Early Roman, Late Roman, Byzantine, Mamluk and Ottoman.
Aerial View:
This is the aerial view of the area from the west side.
Pointing on purple points will automatically scroll to the relevant photo, text or web page.
Photos:
(a) Road to Ofrat:
This is a view of the site on the ancient road. On the left side is a wall, and in the background is the Tell and the high wall.
On the right side is an olive grove.
Click on the photo to view it in higher resolution...
This is the ancient wall, 3M height, which may be from the Israelite period. The road passes to the right of this wall. On the bottom right side is a well that was used by the travelers as drinking water.
(b) The Well:
This photo shows the well, which is covered today.
This is one of the large stones in the site. There were many pillars here, most of them were stolen in recent years. Some of the pillars had the shape of a heart, which may be part of the Roman Synagogue. A part of milestone was found here as well, which was part of the Roman road.
(c) View from the south
This is a view from the south side (marked as Bab el Hawa), after the road turns around the site. Khirbet Ofrat is seen in the center. On the left background is Shefaram, where the road to Acre passed. On the right background is a modern quarry.
Historical References:
Josephus Flavius (Life,37)
In this text, Josephus, as the northern commander of the revolt against the Romans before he came a writer, fortified (66AD) the city of Ofrata as a preparation for the Roman reprisal against the revolt:
"I also fortified, in the Lower Galilee, the cities Tarichee, Tiberias, Sepphoris, and the villages, the cave of Arbela, Bersobe, Selamin, Jotapata, Capharecho, and Sigo, and Japha, and Mount Tabor"
Etymology (behind the name):
References:
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