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Bethsaida

A wildfire burned through the archaeological site of el-Araj in the Galilee, which some identify as the New Testament town of Bethsaida, in July 2025, exposing several Roman structures. (Courtesy El Araj Excavation Project)
August 30, 2025, 9:16 am
Ruins revealed by wildfire boost Galilean site’s claim as New Testament’s Bethsaida
3-day blaze clears vegetation concealing parts of el-Araj on northern shore of Sea of Galilee, adding kindling to theory that location was hometown of St. Peter visited by Jesus
By Rossella Tercatin
The mosaic floor of the Church of the Apostles, near the Sea of Galilee. (Mordechai Aviam/Courtesy)
October 23, 2021, 7:56 pm
Mosaic floors found in what may be biblical Bethsaida’s lost Church of Apostles
On shore of the Sea of Galilee, ancient site is found mysteriously buried and enclosed by wall; excavations continuing
By ToI Staff
Children from the religious community of Hispin in the Golan volunteering at the excavation, pointing to the engraved figures dating to circa 11th century BCE, at a fort which could be the earliest evidence of the biblical 'Geshurites.' (Yaniv Berman, Israel Antiquities Authority)
November 11, 2020, 3:11 pm
King David-era fort found in Golan, may be 1st evidence of Bible’s ‘Geshurites’
Stunning stone etching of two horned individuals at prayer found at mouth of rare circa-11th century citadel in Israel’s north; could predate famous Geshur site, Tel Bethsaida
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A decorative cross from a Byzantine-period church at the El-Araj excavation, one of the sites that could be ancient Bethsaida. (Zachary Wong)
July 19, 2019, 4:21 pm
Ancient Galilee church unearthed, said to be home to apostles Peter and Andrew
Israeli archaeologist says dig at El-Araj, near Sea of Galilee, confirms it as the site of fishing village Bethsaida
By Stephen WEIZMAN
The inner gate floor from the 11th-10th century BCE discovered in 2018 at the ongoing excavations at Bethsaida. (Hanan Shafir, the Bethsaida Archaeological excavations)
July 10, 2018, 8:57 pm
Ancient city gate uncovered in the Galilee may have tie to biblical King David
Site where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and the fishes was possibly the biblical-era city Tzer, where the Bible’s most famous king once claimed a bride
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Crop of the RTI photographic depiction of Apulian pottery portraying Dione and Aphrodite found in Israel's e-Tell site near the Sea of Galilee. The image is apparently the copy of a design found at the Parthenon in Athens, from the 5th century BCE. (Hanan Shafir, Bethsaida Excavations / Michael Maggen, The Israel Museum)
January 22, 2018, 10:37 pm
Imaging technology reveals birth of Athena on 2,300-year-old shard from Galilee
Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) is an increasingly common technique in the tool chests of today’s archaeologists
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Dueling Bethsaida excavations: (clockwise from top left) Bronze coin from e-Tell, team member at el-Araj, mosaics found at el-Araj, city gate at e-Tell excavation site. (courtesy)
August 7, 2017, 2:20 pm
Sites vie to be seen as Christianity’s ‘lost’ city of Bethsaida
Seeking the location of a myriad of New Testament miracles, excavations in area of important Second Temple-era town uncover conflicting finds
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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