Palestine - Tiberias (Plate 68)

Description

This engraving depicts the city of Tiberias, located on the shores of Lake Galilee, and the ruins of the Tiberias Citadel, one of its most prominent historical structures. Founded by Herod Antipas in the 1st century AD in the name of the Roman Emperor Tiberius, the city was an important settlement in both the Roman and Byzantine periods and became a center of Jewish scholarly tradition in the Middle Ages. It continued its existence as a religious, commercial, and administrative center during the Ottoman period. The large stone masses seen in the center of the engraving are the ruins of the Tiberias Citadel, which was rebuilt numerous times throughout the city's history. The citadel was first built during the Crusader period (12th century) and is mentioned in chronicles as Castrum Tiberiadis. It was captured by Saladin after the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and, after partial destruction, was restored to use by Muslim rule. Under Ottoman rule, the castle continued to function as a military garrison and administrative center, but the devastating Safed–Tiberias earthquake of 1837 severely damaged the structure. The extensive ruins and collapsed city walls seen in the engraving are a linear reflection of the landscape that emerged after the earthquake. The minaret-like structure on the right is a characteristic example of the city's Ottoman-era places of worship and suggests Tiberias's Muslim neighborhood and religious life. The tranquil surface of the Sea of ​​Galilee in the background and the hills rising beyond it highlight Tiberias's natural defensive position and terraced urban structure. The stone piles in the foreground, traces of ruined walls, and debris scattered across the landscape convey both the city's archaeological character and the devastation that engulfed the city after the earthquake.