All articles tagged with #sea of galilee
After a decade of digs at El-Araj by the Sea of Galilee, researchers assert the site is Bethsaida, the biblical city linked to Jesus; they've uncovered a Jewish fishing village, Roman-era urban remains, a bathhouse, a Byzantine basilica with a Peter inscription, and hundreds of coins, reinforcing the case that Bethsaida was both a fishing community and a small urban center associated with Jesus' ministry.
A 9-year-old boy is in serious condition with encephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri after swimming at Kursi Beach on the Sea of Galilee; the Health Ministry has confirmed the amoeba as the cause and says the infection is extremely rare worldwide. The boy is being treated at Rambam Medical Center, and authorities note it cannot be contracted from drinking water or from person-to-person contact. Public guidance urges avoiding water entering the nose (nose plugs recommended), not disturbing the bottom in shallow water, and seeking urgent medical care if symptoms such as fever, severe headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, or drowsiness occur after water exposure.
Archaeologists excavating el-Araj on the Sea of Galilee say they are “absolutely” confident they have uncovered Bethsaida, the biblical city where Jesus is said to have performed miracles, after a 10th season that yielded Roman-era walls, Herodian lamps, coins and other artifacts, suggesting a once-thriving Jewish-Roman community and strengthening the case for Bethsaida’s location.
A 2,000-year-old cedar fishing boat recovered from the Sea of Galilee, dating to the first century, is linked to the era of Jesus and to the Gospel story of him calming the storm. The vessel, found near Magdala and now displayed in Ginosar’s Yigal Allon Museum, is the right type for biblical accounts, though historians caution it cannot be proven to be the exact boat used by Jesus. The find nonetheless provides rare archaeological context for biblical narratives and attracts pilgrims and researchers alike.
Divers found a 60,000-ton, cone-shaped cairn of unworked basalt stones beneath the Sea of Galilee, about 10 m tall and 70 m in diameter. First detected in 2003, the structure appears human-made with no signs of cutting or walls, suggesting a ceremonial site or ramp. Its age is uncertain, potentially dating to the Bronze Age (third millennium B.C.), and no underwater excavation has taken place due to cost and logistics, leaving researchers to debate its function and origin.
In August 2025, the Sea of Galilee turned blood red due to a harmless algae bloom, sparking religious and apocalyptic speculation, though scientists confirmed the event was natural and safe.
The Sea of Galilee turned blood red, sparking fears of biblical omens, but scientists explained it was caused by harmless algae and natural wind phenomena that could have also explained the biblical story of the Red Sea crossing.
The Sea of Galilee in Israel has turned blood red due to natural algae, sparking religious fears and symbolic interpretations related to biblical prophecies, though scientists confirm the change is harmless.