Herod also built a wall about Sepphoris (which is the security of all Galilee), and made it the metropolis of the country.
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18:27
Heading north from Nazareth, we headed for the nearby Zippori National Park (Sepphoris). Rebuilt by Herod Antipas while Jesus was growing up, it needed scores of builders. Herod made the city his capital until he built Tiberias about two decades later. Many speculate that Jesus’ father, Joseph, could have used his skills there. In contrast to the tiny Jewish village of Nazareth, Sepphoris became a bustling Greco-Roman city.
The site is best known for is the colorful mosaics. Walking down one of the main streets, mosaics are exposed to the elements that would be covered at other sites. There are too many to protect. The best are covered. Unlike frescos or paintings, mosaics don’t fade with time because their colors are simply the natural color of the small stones that make them up. A simple wash will bring out the original shine.
