Zippori

Zippori

This video features an aerial view of the archaeological site Zippori, in the Galilee of Israel. Zippori is well known for some of the most spectacular mosaics in all of Israel. The video includes views of the ruins of Zippori as well as the modern settlement, Moshav Zippori.

Ancient Zippori was once the capital of Jewish Galilee. According to Christian tradition, Jesus’ grandparents, the parents of Mary, were natives of Zippori. Even though Zippori is not mentioned in scripture, it is important to the study of the Gospels in that it is located only four miles from Nazareth. During Jesus’ early years, Herod Antipas was restoring, developing and fortifying Zippori. For a time it served as his principle residence and the administrative center of Galilee. Additionally, Zippori possessed a 4,000-seat amphitheater, most likely in use while Jesus was a teenager. Herod’s rebuilt city included his palace, an upper city and a lower city, a new city wall, a large market place, synagogues, a colonnaded street, and a residential area. Several large cisterns, one holding a thousand gallons, supplied water for the city.