Changes

== History ==

== History ==

Between 60-40 BC, as Magdala's economy started to expand through increasing fish trade with the Romans, Magdala transitioned from a small village into a prosperous city, known for both its fish salting and boat-building.<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/about/the-story/timeline/ Magdala - Timeline]</ref> It remained the largest urban center in the western coast of the [[Sea of Galilee]] until the establishment of the ancient city of [[Tiberias]] in 19 AD.<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/about/the-story/timeline/ Magdala - History]</ref> According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Magdala approached forty thousand inhabitants towards the middle of the first century AD. Magdala's fortunes would not last however, as it also become an important site for Jewish rebels during the [[Great Jewish Revolt]] of 66-73 AD. Eventually, Roman forces led by [[Vespasian]] laid siege to the city, destroyed it, and slaughtered its inhabitants. The Jewish historian Josephus narrates the siege and slaughter of the city of Magdala;

Between 60-40 BC, as Magdala's economy started to expand through increasing fish trade with the Romans, Magdala transitioned from a small village into a prosperous city, known for both its fish salting and boat-building.<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/about/the-story/timeline/ Magdala - Timeline]</ref> It remained the largest urban center in the western coast of the [[Sea of Galilee]] until the establishment of the ancient city of [[Tiberias]] in 19 AD.<ref>[http://www.magdala.org/about/the-story/timeline/ Magdala - History]</ref> According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Magdala approached forty thousand inhabitants towards the middle of the first century AD. Magdala's fortunes would not last however, as it also become an important site for Jewish rebels during the [[Great Jewish Revolt]] of 66-73 AD. Eventually, Roman forces led by [[Vespasian]] laid siege to the city, captured it, and slaughtered many of its inhabitants. The Jewish historian Josephus narrates the siege and slaughter of the city of Magdala;

:''As soon as ever Titus had said this, he leaped upon his horse, and rode apace down to the lake; by which lake he marched, and entered into the city the first of them all, as did the others soon after him. Hereupon those that were upon the walls were seized with a terror at the boldness of the attempt, nor durst any one venture to fight with him, or to hinder him; so they left guarding the city, and some of those that were about Jesus fled over the country, while others of them ran down to the lake, and met the enemy in the teeth, and some were slain as they were getting up into the ships, but others of them, as they attempted to overtake those that were already gone aboard. There was also a great slaughter made in the city, while those foreigners that had not fled away already made opposition; but the natural inhabitants were killed without fighting; for in hopes of Titus’s giving them his right hand for their security, and out of a consciousness that they had not given any consent to the war, they avoided fighting, till Titus had slain the authors of this revolt, and then put a stop to any farther slaughters, out of commiseration of these inhabitants of the place. But for those that had fled to the lake, upon seeing the city taken, they sailed as far as they possibly could from the enemy.''<ref>Flavius Josephus,

:''As soon as ever Titus had said this, he leaped upon his horse, and rode apace down to the lake; by which lake he marched, and entered into the city the first of them all, as did the others soon after him. Hereupon those that were upon the walls were seized with a terror at the boldness of the attempt, nor durst any one venture to fight with him, or to hinder him; so they left guarding the city, and some of those that were about Jesus fled over the country, while others of them ran down to the lake, and met the enemy in the teeth, and some were slain as they were getting up into the ships, but others of them, as they attempted to overtake those that were already gone aboard. There was also a great slaughter made in the city, while those foreigners that had not fled away already made opposition; but the natural inhabitants were killed without fighting; for in hopes of Titus’s giving them his right hand for their security, and out of a consciousness that they had not given any consent to the war, they avoided fighting, till Titus had slain the authors of this revolt, and then put a stop to any farther slaughters, out of commiseration of these inhabitants of the place. But for those that had fled to the lake, upon seeing the city taken, they sailed as far as they possibly could from the enemy.''<ref>Flavius Josephus,

  ''Jewish War 3.10.5''</ref>

  ''Jewish War 3.10.5''</ref>

Magdala has been the subject of numerous important archaeological discoveries, including a first-century Jewish synagogue, as well as the finding of the [[Magdala Stone]], considered by many to be one of the most important single archaeological findings in the last 50 years.<ref>Dospěl,

Magdala has been the subject of numerous important archaeological discoveries, including a first-century Jewish synagogue, as well as the finding of the [[Magdala Stone]], considered by many to be one of the most important single archaeological findings in the last 50 years.<ref>Dospěl,