Hippos-Sussita
July 7 – July 31, 2025
other
City of the Decapolis
This summer, help archaeologists excavate the Hellenistic and Roman site of Hippos (Aramaic Sussita) in northern Israel. Impressively situated on a high spur overlooking the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Hippos was founded in the mid-second century BCE as one of the ten Decapolis cities. In these cities, where the local population came to fully embrace Greek life and culture, Hellenistic values dominated nearly every aspect of civic and private life, including architecture, religion, literature, and sport. Even after the Roman general Pompey established Roman control over the region in 63 BCE, the Decapolis cities retained their Hellenized traditions for several hundred years.
At Hippos, archaeologists have uncovered the extraordinary remains of a large, well-planned Greco-Roman city, complete with a main colonnaded street (the decumanus maximus), a broad rectangular-shaped forum, Roman fortifications, luxurious public baths, and major temples dating to both the Hellenistic and Roman periods. More recently, excavations have brought to light the Roman-period odeon, a Roman basilica, as well as the remains of at least seven different churches built on the site during the Byzantine period.
In the 2025 season, the team will continue exploring the segment of a cardo (a side street) and its surrounding neighborhood with mosaics and plaster installations, and the city’s cathedral.
Details
Geographic Location
Sea of Galilee, Northern Israel
Dates of the Dig
July 7 – July 31, 2025
Minimum Stay
1 Week
Application Due
Wednesday, June 1, 2025
Academic Credit/Cost per Credit/Institution
Contact for details
Accommodations
Participants will be lodged in the hostel of Kibbutz Ein Gev, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a 5-minute drive from the site. The kibbutz is a 20-minute drive from Tiberias and a one-hour drive from Haifa. There are 2-4 occupants in each room with shared facilities. It is possible to arrange a single room for an extra fee (ask us in advance) with shared facilities. All rooms are air-conditioned and have wi-fi access. Linens and towels are provided. Free-of-charge collective laundry services are available once a week. Three meals a day are provided.
Cost
Directors
Michael Eisenberg: University of Haifa and the German Protestant Institute of Archaeology
Arleta Kowalewska: University of Haifa
Contact
Arleta Kowalewska
To learn how you can get involved, visit their website and check them out on Facebook, and Instagram.
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