The earliest signs of habitation in the Golan are the dolmens.
These massive stone table-like structures are believed to be the
remains of ancient burial sites dating back more than 6000 years.
One of the most poignant stories regarding the revolt against Rome is
the story of Gamla. The battle is best described by Josephus who was the
former commander of the region: "Sloping down from a towering peak is a spur like
a long jagged neck... On the face and both sides it is cut off
by impossible ravines... Built against the almost vertical flank
the houses were piled on top of one another and the town seemed
to be hung in air... It faced south and its crest served as a
citadel resting on an unwalled precipice that went straight down
into the deepest ravine."
Nimrod's Fortress (Ka'alat Nimrod) - remains of a Crusader fortress
perched at the edge of the Hermon range, overlooking the ancient city of Dan.
It is reported to have originally been built by Nimrod the grandson of Ham.
On the right is a picture of Gamla, the site of the desparate battle
against the Romans and a once thriving community and learning center.
The Golan, as evidenced by the over 100 archaeological sites found and
studied since 1967, began to really flourish in the Talumudic era just as
the rest of the country was in decline. Throughout the Golan synagogues were built, in Hamat
Gader, Aphek, Dabura, Katzrin, Kanaf, Sogane (Yehudiya), Kfar
Harub, Nob, Susita etc. The Golan is rarely mentioned in the
Talmud and it is possible that many of the communities were
founded only in the 4th Century.
Pictured here is Katzrin - a Talmudic city in Central Golan. It is most famous for
its large synagogue made of basalt stone. It features a releif of
a menorah and one of a peacock. Many buildings in this once
thriving city have been restored.
Birkat Ram - The largest crater lake in Israel. It is fed by
underground springs and lies just beneath the Hermon mountains.
The Talmud tells us (Sanhedrin 108a) of great underground springs
which opened during the Flood. Later all but three were sealed
up. The three were Hammat Gader (Hamat Gader of today) near the
Yarmuk, The Tiberias hot springs and the spring of Beit Ram,
known today as Birkat Ram.
The Hermon area is mentioned in the Bible in the context of the land that was conquered by the
Israelites from the Amorite kings: Land stretching from "the Arnon River unto Mt. Hermon"
(Deut. 3:8).
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