- Migdal, Israel
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Migdal Hebrew transcription(s) - Hebrew מִגְדָּל - ISO 259 Migdal Coordinates: 32°50′20.68″N 35°29′57.46″E / 32.8390778°N 35.4992944°ECoordinates: 32°50′20.68″N 35°29′57.46″E / 32.8390778°N 35.4992944°E District North Founded 1910 Government - Type Local council (from 1949) Area - Total 11,395 dunams (11.4 km2 / 4.4 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.
Contents
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]
In 1908, a small group of German Catholics who identified the site as the birth place 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. 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]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Locality File" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2008. http://www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2008/bycode.xls. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- ^ a b c About Migdal. Flags of the World
- ^ Ancient Menorah
- ^ Encyclopedia of Zionism and Israel Herzl Press and McGraw-Hill,New York 1971, Volume II, p. 784
- ^ Ancient Synagogue Found in Migdal
Categories:- North District (Israel)
- Local councils in Israel
- Biblical places
- New Testament places
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