TIBERIAS* 2^ 
fifty years* In the sixth, Justinian, according to Procopius^ 
rebuilt the walls.f lo the seventh century,^ the city was 
taken by the Saracens, under Caliph Omar; yet, in the 
eighth, we find- it mentioned in an itinerary cited by Reland, 
as-still containing many churches and Jewish synagogues. § 
Various medals are extant of the city, bearing different in- 
seriptions.|| These are interesting, not only from the dates 
which they commemorate, but also in the allusion made by 
some of them to the baths of Tiberias, the principal cause of 
the city’s celebrity. They are principally of the time of 
Trajan or of Adrian. Upon some, the Syrian goddessAs- 
tarte is represented standing upon the prow of a vessel, with 
the head of Osiris in her right hand, and a spear in her left.*'* 
Others represent Jupiter sitting in his temple.|f There are 
also other medals of the city* with the figure of Hygeia^ 
holding a serpent, and sitting on a mountain; from whose 
base issue two fountains, intended for the hot springs of Em- 
maus.Jt 
Among the pebbles of the shore were pieces of a porous rock, 
resembling the substance called loadstone in England : its cavi¬ 
ties were filled with zeolite. Native gold was found here 
formerly. We noticed an appearance of this kind, but, on ac¬ 
count of its trivial nature, neglected to pay proper attention to 
it, notwithstanding the hints given by more than one writer 
upon this subject,^ Neither boat, nor vessel of any kind, ap* 
peared upon the lake. The water was as clear as the purest 
- See Basnage’s Hist, of the Jews. 
t Procop. lib. v. c; 9. de iEdific. Justinian. 
fsA. D. 640. See Basnage ; Egmont and Hey man, fee. The Emperor Reraclius 
Visited this place A- D. 620", as appears from the writings of Anastasius, (Histor. p. 
101.) “ Tiberiadem adiisset, accusavere Christian! Benjamin quendam nomine, quasi 
mala sibi facientem (erat enim admodiim opulentus) qui suscepit Imperatorem et ex- 
ercitum ejtts, Ast Imperator damnavit eum; quamobrem inquiens, ‘ Molestus ea 
Ghristianis V qui ait, ‘ Ut inimicis iidei meae.” Tunc Imperator admonitum hunc, ct 
ad credendum suasum baptizavit in aedibus Eustachii Neapolitan^ qui et ipse cum 
Christianus esset Imperatorura excepit.” Rel. Palaest. tom. II. p. 1040. 
5 Itin. Willibaldi. Rel. Palaest. ibid. 
}| Vid. Rardiiin Num Antiq. p. 498. Paris, 1684. Patin. p. 185- Vaillant Numis. 
Imperat. August et Caesar, p.374. Paris, 1698, &c. The legend given by Harduia 
is, TIBEP1EQN. Em. KAAXAIOT. ET. An. Those commemorated bv VaiP 
lant have KAAXAIO TXBEPlE£2I\ T , with different dates. The epochaof the city 
commences with the year of Romp 770 ; therefore the All, or 81, noticed by Har- 
duin, answers to the year of Rome 850, being the first year of Trajan’s reign. It 
was usual to compliment the emperors by striking medals during the first year of 
their reign. Reland notices a remarkable medal of Tiberias (tom. II. p. 1042. Fa- 
laerst. Illust.) which had on one side the legend TIBEPXAC tvithin a laurel wreath 
and upon the other the words HPI2AOX TETPAPXGXL- A A- with a palm 
branch. 
** Vaillant, p. 374. Num. Imperat. Paris, 1698, 
4t Vaillant, p. 374. Num. Imperat. Paris. 1698. 
Vid. Reland Palaest. Illust. tom. II. p. 1042. 
C’Hegeslppus (fe Excieb Urb. Hiero. Jib. iij c. 26* fe&ii 
