Illustration
As part of Herod the Great's building program, about Herod's Harbor in Caesarea Maritima, Josephus mentions “a great number of arches where the mariners dwelt” and “very large towers on a wall that ran around it.” The breakwater arms to which Josephus refers were laid out on a circular course and housed 40 acres of water. (Antiquities, 15.9.6; Wars, 1.21.6) Spaced approximately 27 meters (90 ft) apart, the towers likely exceeded 9 meters (30 ft) in diameter as they reached heights exceeding 18 meters (60 ft).
Using archaeological reports by Avner Raban, John Oleson, Robert Hohlfelder, and others, along with comparative analysis of known Roman construction techniques, Josephus' eyewitness descriptions, and Herodian fortification work at Jerusalem and Masada, the image you see is part of the collaborative creation of Lithodomos and Patrick Scott Smith.
About the Author
Related Images
Ancient Ruins of the Harbor at Caesarea Maritima
Herod's Harbor (Inner Harbor Layout)
Hippodrome of Caesarea Maritima
Aerial View of Herod's Harbor
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Caesarea Maritima
Cite This Work
APA Style
A., P. S. S. M. (2025, July 01). Towers and Arches at Herod's Harbor. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20610/towers-and-arches-at-herods-harbor/
Chicago Style
A., Patrick Scott Smith, M.. "Towers and Arches at Herod's Harbor." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified July 01, 2025. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20610/towers-and-arches-at-herods-harbor/.
MLA Style
A., Patrick Scott Smith, M.. "Towers and Arches at Herod's Harbor." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 01 Jul 2025, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20610/towers-and-arches-at-herods-harbor/. Web. 01 Jul 2025.
