Herod Constructs Caesarea Maritima

Previously, a Jewish settlement serving the shipbuilding industry, Herod transformed it into a majestic Roman city. One of his biggest projects, construction started in 22 BCE and finished in 9 BCE. In honour of Caeser Augustus, he called it Caesarea.

Hosting a deep-sea harbour, Caesarea was a cutting-edge, ultra-modern port and key commercial harbour in the ancient world of trade. Palaces, markets, storerooms, wide roads, bathhouses, and a pagan temple to Augustus and the goddess Roma formed part of the impressive city with the colossal hippodrome as the epicentre. Caesarea Maritima became the Capital of the Province of Judea in 6 BCE and retained that status till 132 CE.​

Josephus Antiquities 15.9.6

"Now upon his observation of a place near the sea,… he (Herod) set about getting a plan for a magnificent city there; and erected many edifices with great diligence all over it: and this of white stone. He also adorned it with most sumptuous palaces, and large edifices for containing the people; and what was the greatest and most laborious work of all, he adorned it with a haven, that was always free from the waves of the sea….As the city itself was called Cesarea…”