Archaeology
Hippos Excavation 2012
(click here to download the 2012 Hippos plan and application form in PDF, and here for the waiver.)
The 2012 Season
Plans are in place for the thirteenth season of archaeology at Hippos, Israel. This is the fourth time that Concordia Lutheran Seminary has participated in this exciting project, under the leadership of Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. Come and join us for an academic, spiritual, and hands-on adventure at a stunningly beautiful site—overlooking the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
The Hippos Excavations
Hippos lies atop a spectacular steep-sided mountain on the east coast of the Sea of Galilee. Founded in the 3rd century B.C. as a Syrian outpost, it was one of the cities of the Decapolis, a loosely knit group of culturally Greek cities located just east of ancient Israel. Although it came under Jewish control for two brief periods in the first century B.C., its history was mostly dominated by Greek and Roman influences.
During the fourth century A.D., Hippos began to be “Christianized.” Within a century, it was an important centre of Byzantine Christianity that boasted at least five churches; one was an impressive cathedral and another seems to have been part of a monastery. The city reached its high-point, both as a classically planned city and as a Christian centre, late in the sixth century A.D. Following the Arab conquest of the mid-seventh century, Hippos began a period of gradual decline that ended with its complete destruction in a catastrophic earthquake in 749 A.D. The city then lay in ruins until excavations began in the year 2000.
The excavations to date have revealed a great deal of the city’s ancient splendour and the vibrancy of its inhabitants’ life. Concordia Lutheran Seminary is excited to continue collaborating on this project with Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
To supplement the brief information provided here, prospective participants should consult Concordia University’s website dedicated to the North-East Church project: http://hippos.archaeology.csp.edu/. Please note, however, that Canadians are encouraged to register and participate in the project through Concordia Lutheran Seminary, as outlined below.
Tentative Dates
Thursday June 28th to Sunday, July 15th, 2012
Hippos 2006
Click here for Nov. 2007 article from The Canadian Lutheran
Click here to see the 2006 Photo Gallery
Hippos 2008
Click here for Dec. 2009 article from The Canadian Lutheran
