186 10 Tiberias, from Its Foundation to the End of the Early Islamic Period Katia Cytryn-Silverman Introduction Tiberias is located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, some 150 km north of Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley (or almost 200 km if traveling via the sea route), and approximately 160 km from Damascus. he city topography is best described by the Jerusalemite geographer of the tenth century, al-Muqaddasi: “Tabariyya is the capital of Jordan and a city of Wadi (the Valley of) Kan‘an. It is situated between the mountain and the lake, cramped, with sufocating heat in summer, and unhealthy.” 1 he foundation date of Tiberias is not certain. Named after Tiberius (reigned 14–37 ce), it is believed to have been founded by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, as his capital some- time between 18 and 20. In 39 Antipas’s nephew, Agrippa I, gained control over the city and ruled it up to his death in 44 ce. Until 61 ce it was ruled by the procurators, when its political status changed when it was annexed to the kingdom of Agrippa II, whose capital was at Banias. In about 100 ce it came under direct Roman rule. During Hadrian’s reign (117–138 ce) there commenced the erection of a temple in his honor in the middle of the city, which, however, was never inished. In the third century, Tiberias lourished: not only was it granted the status of a Roman colony (under Elagabalus [reigned 218–222 ce]), but also it became the capital of the Jewish people, after the Sanhedrin, the Patriarchate, and the leader of the community all had moved 1. Al-Muqaddasī, Ah\san al-taqāsim fī ma‘rifat al-aqālim (ed. M. J. de Goeje; Leiden: Brill, 1906), 161. GalileeII_A.indd 186 8/27/2015 2:18:15 PM