Migdal, Israel

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Migdal
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • Hebrew מִגְדָּל
 • ISO 259 Migdal
Migdal
Coordinates: 32°50′20.68″N 35°29′57.46″E / 32.8390778°N 35.4992944°E / 32.8390778; 35.4992944Coordinates: 32°50′20.68″N 35°29′57.46″E / 32.8390778°N 35.4992944°E / 32.8390778; 35.4992944
District North
Founded 1910
Government
 • Type Local council (from 1949)
Area
 • Total 11,395 dunams (11.395 km2 or 4.400 sq mi)
Population (2008)[1]
 • Total 1,627
Name meaning Tower

Migdal (Hebrew: מִגְדָּל, lit. Tower) is a town in the Northern District of Israel. It was founded in 1910, and granted local council status in 1949. In 2008 it had a population of 1,627.[1]

Migdal is located near Ginosar, and about 8 km north of Tiberias.[2] It has a shoreline on the Sea of Galilee, including the Tamar, Ilanot and Arbel beaches.

History

The town is named after the old city of Migdala Nunia (Aramaic: "fish tower"), home town of Mary of Magdala (Luke 8:2), and is situated just west of the Kinneret on Tiberias-Rosh Pina road.[2]

Bilu pioneers in Migdal, 1912

In 1908, a small group of German Catholics who identified the site as the birthplace of Mary Magdalene settled there.[3] They left after a year and the land was bought by Russia Zionists who founded a farm, Ahuzat Moskva (Moscow Estate) in 1910. This settlement was adjacent to the Arab village Al-Majdal . A few years later, the land was sold to private investors.[2] An encampment of Gdud HaAvoda workers who built the Tiberias-Rosh Pina road was established there in 1921.[4]

Archaeology

In September 2009, a salvage dig of the Israel Antiquities Authority prior to the construction of a hotel revealed an ancient synagogue believed to date back some 2000 years, from 50 BCE to 100 CE. In the middle of a 120 sq.m. main hall, archaeologists discovered an unusual stone carved with a seven-branched menorah. It is the first of its kind to be discovered from the early Roman period. In addition to the engraved stone, the walls are decorated with brightly colored frescoes.[5]

In the past years arqueologists have continued excavating and have found a mikveh which is now visible for the public to see.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Locality File" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2008. Retrieved 2010-06-22. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 About Migdal. Flags of the World
  3. ↑ Ancient Menorah
  4. ↑ Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel Herzl Press and McGraw-Hill,New York 1971, Volume II, p. 784
  5. ↑ Ancient Synagogue Found in Migdal
The town of Migdal is featured on the right, and Hamaam on the left From Mount Arbel.
North District of Israel
Cities
Local councils
Regional councils
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