Sea of Galilee
AbrahamicJewishseaMiddle East10 BCE - present
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Location
Modern Name
Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)
Country
Israel
Region
Middle East
Coordinates
32.8231, 35.5831
Era
10 BCE - present
Site Type
Sea
About
Israel's largest freshwater lake, nestled in the Jordan Rift Valley, central to the ministries of biblical prophets and later Jesus of Nazareth.
Significance
Called 'Kinneret' in the Hebrew Bible; the surrounding region was home to fishing communities, ancient synagogues, and key events in biblical history.
History & Historical Arc
Inhabited since prehistoric times; major fishing and trading hub in the Second Temple period; site of Capernaum, Magdala…
Archaeological Notes
The 'Jesus Boat' (1st-century CE wooden fishing vessel) was discovered in the lakebed in 1986 during a drought; synagogu…
Key Features & Structures
- Kinneret shoreline promenade
- ancient Galilee boat museum
Visitor Information
Tiberias is the main base; boat tours available; national parks at Capernaum and Kursi; swimming beaches along western s…
Related Figures
JoshuaNaphtali tribeJesus (Christian tradition)Disciples
In the Bible
Source References
- Numbers 34:11
- Joshua 13:27
- Matthew 4:18