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There are places
that are still lost.
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00:00:04,100 --> 00:00:07,600
And one of the most
important sites is Bethsaida.
3
00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,867
[Josh] This is a really
important city.
4
00:00:09,867 --> 00:00:12,533
This is a place where
Jesus is performing miracles.
5
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-He's walking on water.
-Absolutely.
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[Josh] It's extraordinary.
7
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What an incredible site.
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This place is,
like, otherworldly.
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This is the first time
the world has seen this
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-in 1,400 years.
-[Steven] Yeah.
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[Josh] So, simple question,
12
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where's Bethsaida?
13
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where's Bethsaida?
14
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Put on your gloves
and let's go to work.
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Oh, manual labor?
16
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-Oh, I didn't realize.
-[chuckles]
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[on radio] Ready to
rock and roll.
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[on radio] There's
another site. They believe
this could be Bethsaida.
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What? My brain
is exploding right now.
20
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[engines revving]
21
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Jesus may have walked
on this very street.
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It's overwhelming
to think about it.
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[Moti] There's always
surprises in archeology.
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[exhales] I gotta remember
to not look down too much.
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It's not a smoking gun,
it's a bomb.
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[Josh] This is unbelievable.
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I mean, look at this.
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I mean, look at this.
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All of us have heard
the stories of
the miracles of Jesus.
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He is said to have
healed the blind,
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walked on water
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and fed the 5,000.
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The Bible reveals
that the miracles happened
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on the shores
of the Sea of Galilee
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in a fishing village
called Bethsaida.
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This was also the hometown
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of three of Jesus' Apostles,
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including Peter,
the rock of the early Church
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including Peter,
the rock of the early Church
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later anointed
as the first pope.
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Bethsaida is, therefore,
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one of the holiest
Christian sites on Earth,
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or it would be
if we knew where it was.
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Its location,
lost for nearly 2,00 years
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has recently sparked
a heated and holy debate.
46
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In the late 20th century,
47
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one archeologist
discovered the ruins
48
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of an ancient town
so convincing
49
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that it was officially
declared to be
the long-missing site.
50
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that it was officially
declared to be
the long-missing site.
51
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But not so fast
52
00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:04,867
because now a different team
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claims that
they've found Bethsaida
54
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and they're backing it up
with a remarkable discovery
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that's making headlines
around the globe.
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And nearby,
a third archeological dig
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may have unearthed
the literal foundation
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of Christianity itself.
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So come with me
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as I journey to the Holy Land
61
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to walk in the footsteps
of Jesus and his Apostles
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on a quest to find
the lost city of miracles.
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on a quest to find
the lost city of miracles.
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My name is Josh Gates.
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Hello!
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Explorer...
67
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Here goes nothing.
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...adventurer...
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[exclaiming]
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Oh, that's a long way down.
71
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...and a guy who ends up in
some very strange situations.
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I'm alive! For now.
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With a degree in archeology
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and a passion
for the unexplained,
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I travel to
the ends of the Earth
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investigating the greatest
legends in history.
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investigating the greatest
legends in history.
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[on radio] Ready to
rock and roll.
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This is Expedition Unknown.
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Through the storied stones
of Damascus Gate,
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I cross the threshold
82
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into the old city
of Jerusalem.
83
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[people chattering]
84
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Well, I am back again
in the Holy Land
85
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Well, I am back again
in the Holy Land
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at the only place we could
begin this expedition.
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The building behind me
is the most important site
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in the entire Christian world,
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the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre.
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Let's go inside.
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This is the place
where tradition holds
92
00:03:44,166 --> 00:03:47,100
that Jesus
was crucified, entombed,
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and then rose from the dead.
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For the past 1,700 years,
95
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Christians have made
pilgrimage here
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to get as close to him
as possible.
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But I'm here
to search for Christianity's
humble beginnings
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But I'm here
to search for Christianity's
humble beginnings
99
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and the place of miracles
that started it all.
100
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To do that, we have to go
back in time,
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like here, on the lowest level
of the Holy Sepulchre.
102
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This is one of the oldest
parts of the church,
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and this is, essentially,
antique graffiti,
104
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thousands of crosses
carved into the walls
105
00:04:20,734 --> 00:04:24,533
by devoted pilgrims
who traveled here
from far-away lands.
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Chiseling your mark
into holy architecture
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00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:30,000
is now a no-no,
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is now a no-no,
109
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but people are still
continuing the tradition,
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just using another medium.
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This is Razzouk Tattoo,
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and it's not just
any tattoo parlor.
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It's been around
since the Crusades
were a going concern.
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The oldest stamp
in the store is this,
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a partially-broken
Jerusalem cross.
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This wood block
is 500 years old
117
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and it would look
really good on me.
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Wassim Razzouk
is the current caretaker.
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For 27 generations,
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For 27 generations,
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his family has been inking
pilgrims in the Holy Land,
122
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and they still come in droves.
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Hello, hello.
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-Hello.
-How's everyone doing?
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-Hey! Good.
-Good.
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[Josh] Okay, so we've got
a sword happening here.
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-You're getting what?
-Mary Magdalene.
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Mary Magdalene.
And you've got...
129
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-Oh, you've got all sorts
of stuff going on here.
-[man] We got a few things.
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-I've been here eight times.
-[Josh] Wow.
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-If he gets 10,
he gets a free one, right?
-[all chuckling]
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Wow, this is extraordinary.
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Soon, Wassim's chair is free
and I'm in it.
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Okay, time for me to dig deep
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and bear the pain.
136
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[suspenseful music playing]
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[Josh grunts, flinches]
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[exhales]
139
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Okay, what do you think?
140
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Well, not gonna lie,
it hurt a lot...
141
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-It hurt.
-...but I toughed it out.
142
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What are you talking about?
We didn't even start.
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I didn't tattoo you yet.
This was just the stamp.
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What? That was just the stamp?
145
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-[Wassim] Yeah!
-Oh, no. I'm not
ready for this.
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-I'm not ready for this.
I gotta hit the road.
-You're not ready?
147
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-No, I gotta hit the road.
-Okay. Where are you going?
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We're filming, uh, up north.
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Oh. You wanna ride with us?
150
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Oh. You wanna ride with us?
151
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-Us?
-Us.
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[engine purring]
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[engine revving]
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[Josh] Not only is Wassim
a tattoo artist,
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he's also a member
of the Holy Land Bikers,
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a motorcycle club
which patrols
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the most sacred
streets on Earth.
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These guys
are all about honor,
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These guys
are all about honor,
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loyalty and brotherhood
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and it is a privilege
to ride alongside them.
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All I had to do was kick in
for gas, grass
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and promise to go to mass.
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That's fair.
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Wassim,
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I like your style.
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Thank you, man.
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Hey, I'm in a gang!
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It's a miracle.
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Wassim,
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this is my exit.
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Thank you so much.
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I'll be sure to
bring the bike back, okay?
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God bless.
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Eventually, I break off
from the gang
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and point my chopper north.
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To find the lost city
of miracles,
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I'm headed to a city
that isn't lost,
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an ancient village mentioned
in all four Gospels
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known as Capernaum.
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00:07:28,734 --> 00:07:30,000
After a drive
of about 100 miles,
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After a drive
of about 100 miles,
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I arrive at the archeological
site of Capernaum
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on the western edge
of the famous Sea of Galilee.
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Don't let the view
confuse you.
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The Sea of Galilee
is actually a lake,
187
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the lowest fresh-water lake
in the world,
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700 feet below sea level.
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And on its shore
are the ruins of Capernaum,
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a simple fishing village
from the first century.
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It's here that I'm meeting
Biblical scholar Yisca Harani.
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00:08:01,266 --> 00:08:02,367
Yisca.
193
00:08:02,867 --> 00:08:04,000
Hello, Josh.
194
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-[Josh] Beautiful morning.
-Absolutely.
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So, based on
the thousands of people
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I see walking around here,
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I take it we are standing
in a very important place.
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00:08:12,867 --> 00:08:16,266
Yes. Capernaum is really
the heart of the Galilee.
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It's Jerusalem of the Galilee
200
00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:19,600
-from the perspective
of Jesus.
-[Josh] Right.
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00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,600
Right, because, in the Bible,
202
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to put it quite simply,
203
00:08:23,266 --> 00:08:25,600
Jesus was here, right?
He lived here.
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00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,634
-Jesus was here
according to the four Gospels.
-Right.
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00:08:28,634 --> 00:08:30,000
All Gospels
place Jesus' ministry here.
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00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,967
All Gospels
place Jesus' ministry here.
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00:08:32,967 --> 00:08:36,500
[Josh] The four Gospels,
the book of Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John,
208
00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:37,967
don't always agree.
209
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But in some things,
210
00:08:39,367 --> 00:08:41,266
like the mention
of this fishing village,
211
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they're unanimous.
212
00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,500
As important a place
as this is,
213
00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:47,734
it did become lost
for a while, right?
214
00:08:47,734 --> 00:08:49,500
Yes. In the ninth century,
215
00:08:49,500 --> 00:08:52,266
or 10th at the latest,
it is abandoned.
216
00:08:52,266 --> 00:08:54,367
And that's really the thing
that's brought me here,
217
00:08:54,367 --> 00:08:56,367
is that,
as important as this is,
218
00:08:56,367 --> 00:08:58,734
there are other places
like Capernaum
219
00:08:58,734 --> 00:09:00,000
that are, today, still lost.
220
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,266
that are, today, still lost.
221
00:09:02,266 --> 00:09:05,734
That is true. And one of
the most important sites
is Bethsaida.
222
00:09:05,734 --> 00:09:08,000
Bethsaida. So this is,
this is a place
223
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,166
that is also mentioned in
all four of the Gospels.
224
00:09:10,166 --> 00:09:13,166
[Yisca] Bethsaida is the place
where three Apostles grew up.
225
00:09:13,166 --> 00:09:14,266
[Josh] Right.
226
00:09:14,266 --> 00:09:15,967
[Yisca] Peter
and his brother Andrew...
227
00:09:15,967 --> 00:09:17,000
Uh-huh.
228
00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,967
...and then a third one
called Philip.
229
00:09:18,967 --> 00:09:21,166
I have to think back
to Sunday school now.
230
00:09:21,166 --> 00:09:23,467
I need an Apostle
refresher course.
231
00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,867
The Apostles were Jesus' crew,
232
00:09:27,867 --> 00:09:29,700
his literal ride or dies
233
00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:30,000
who were the first
to spread the gospel
of his divine nature.
234
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,166
who were the first
to spread the gospel
of his divine nature.
235
00:09:33,166 --> 00:09:35,066
There were
an even dozen of them.
236
00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:37,367
Peter, Peter's brother Andrew,
237
00:09:37,367 --> 00:09:39,500
Simon, aka Simon the Zealot,
238
00:09:39,500 --> 00:09:41,533
John, John's brother James,
239
00:09:41,533 --> 00:09:43,800
another James, which must have
been kind of confusing,
240
00:09:44,467 --> 00:09:46,467
Matthew, Bartholomew,
241
00:09:46,467 --> 00:09:48,600
Thomas, Jude, Philip,
242
00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,734
and last and definitely least,
Judas Iscariot.
243
00:09:51,734 --> 00:09:54,166
Together, they are responsible
not just for throwing
244
00:09:54,166 --> 00:09:56,166
the most memorable
dinner party in history,
245
00:09:56,166 --> 00:10:00,000
but for the founding
of Christianity itself.
246
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:00,166
but for the founding
of Christianity itself.
247
00:10:00,166 --> 00:10:02,166
And the fact that Peter
is from Bethsaida
248
00:10:02,166 --> 00:10:03,467
is also really significant.
249
00:10:03,467 --> 00:10:05,266
He's the one
that's going to be given
250
00:10:05,266 --> 00:10:07,166
-the keys to leadership.
-[Josh] Yeah.
251
00:10:07,166 --> 00:10:09,734
Home to some very important
characters in this story.
252
00:10:09,734 --> 00:10:11,967
Bethsaida is also
a place of miracles
253
00:10:11,967 --> 00:10:14,800
and all of these miracles
are very significant.
254
00:10:16,467 --> 00:10:18,867
[Josh] The Gospel of Mark
tells us of a blind man
255
00:10:18,867 --> 00:10:21,367
who was brought to Jesus
begging to be healed.
256
00:10:21,367 --> 00:10:23,700
Jesus laid his hands
on the man's eyes
257
00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:25,634
and the blind could see.
258
00:10:28,266 --> 00:10:29,500
Mark also tells us
259
00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:30,000
that it is from the shores
of the lost town
260
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,467
that it is from the shores
of the lost town
261
00:10:31,467 --> 00:10:34,266
that Jesus walked
on the Sea of Galilee.
262
00:10:36,367 --> 00:10:39,600
And finally, there is one of
Jesus' most memorable feats,
263
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,734
feeding 5,000 people
264
00:10:41,734 --> 00:10:44,867
with just five loaves of bread
and two fish.
265
00:10:44,867 --> 00:10:46,266
According to Luke,
266
00:10:46,266 --> 00:10:49,266
all 5,000
"ate and were filled."
267
00:10:49,266 --> 00:10:51,800
And all of this happened
in Bethsaida.
268
00:10:54,467 --> 00:10:56,066
So, if we're digging around
in the dirt
269
00:10:56,066 --> 00:10:58,166
and we find a site,
270
00:10:58,166 --> 00:11:00,000
what do we need
for a place to be Bethsaida?
271
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:00,634
what do we need
for a place to be Bethsaida?
272
00:11:00,634 --> 00:11:02,066
What's on the checklist?
273
00:11:02,066 --> 00:11:04,066
In order to be Bethsaida,
274
00:11:04,066 --> 00:11:07,467
first of all, we have to find
a Jewish fishing village
275
00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:09,367
-from first century.
-[Josh] Right.
276
00:11:09,367 --> 00:11:10,867
-Much like this.
-Yes.
277
00:11:10,867 --> 00:11:13,100
We need, because these
Apostles were fishermen,
278
00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:14,867
-we need a fishing village.
-Exactly. Exactly.
279
00:11:14,867 --> 00:11:16,000
Right. Okay.
280
00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,266
But then the second level
281
00:11:17,266 --> 00:11:19,867
must be a Roman polis.
282
00:11:19,867 --> 00:11:21,000
Polis.
283
00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,500
Polis means a city
284
00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:25,634
-recognized by
the imperial rulers.
-Right.
285
00:11:25,634 --> 00:11:27,166
-Okay.
-So we need Jewish level
286
00:11:27,166 --> 00:11:29,100
-and we need the Roman level.
-[Josh] Got it.
287
00:11:30,166 --> 00:11:31,500
Under the Roman Empire,
288
00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:34,100
towns that were in favor
with local administrators
289
00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:36,600
could be given the status
of a polis.
290
00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,367
Roman polises
were granted limited autonomy
to self-govern,
291
00:11:40,367 --> 00:11:43,367
and right around the time
of Jesus' crucifixion,
292
00:11:43,367 --> 00:11:46,266
Bethsaida became
one such place.
293
00:11:46,266 --> 00:11:49,367
It was even given
a Roman name, Julius,
294
00:11:49,367 --> 00:11:52,800
in honor of the emperor
Caesar Augustus' wife Julia.
295
00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:58,166
So, simple question,
where's Bethsaida?
296
00:11:58,166 --> 00:12:00,000
-There are two candidates
for Bethsaida.
-There are?
297
00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:00,867
-There are two candidates
for Bethsaida.
-There are?
298
00:12:00,867 --> 00:12:03,166
-The one called Et-Tell...
-Uh-huh.
299
00:12:03,166 --> 00:12:07,467
...is a place that was
discovered in 1989...
300
00:12:07,467 --> 00:12:10,700
-All right.
-[Yisca] ...and is still
being excavated
301
00:12:10,700 --> 00:12:13,867
-and it seem to be
a good candidate.
-Okay.
302
00:12:13,867 --> 00:12:15,266
But then we had a surprise.
303
00:12:15,266 --> 00:12:17,867
Another location
was identified
304
00:12:17,867 --> 00:12:19,166
to be a potential candidate.
305
00:12:19,166 --> 00:12:21,467
-The place
is called El Araj...
-Okay.
306
00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:23,867
[Yisca]
...and it is being now,
as we're speaking,
307
00:12:23,867 --> 00:12:25,533
it is being excavated.
308
00:12:25,533 --> 00:12:27,266
So which one is Bethsaida?
309
00:12:27,266 --> 00:12:29,266
Well, only archeology
310
00:12:29,266 --> 00:12:30,000
can be the real witness
311
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:31,066
can be the real witness
312
00:12:31,066 --> 00:12:33,066
to what has happened
2,000 years ago
313
00:12:33,066 --> 00:12:35,600
because, if we don't
see Bethsaida
314
00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,266
coming alive from the ground,
315
00:12:38,266 --> 00:12:39,500
it will remain a text...
316
00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:40,533
Right.
317
00:12:40,533 --> 00:12:42,333
...or it will remain lost.
318
00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,266
[Josh] There are multiple
contenders for the site,
319
00:12:47,266 --> 00:12:49,634
but only one
was a place of miracles.
320
00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:53,467
I thank Yisca
and rush back to my bike
321
00:12:53,467 --> 00:12:56,533
to visit a pair
of potential Bethsaidas.
322
00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,000
All right,
for your consideration,
323
00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:00,100
All right,
for your consideration,
324
00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:01,500
candidate number one,
325
00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:03,867
the archeological site
of Et-Tell,
326
00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:07,700
a place that has been
calling itself Bethsaida
for 30 years.
327
00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:09,100
They are so convinced,
328
00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:11,266
they even put it
on the street signs.
329
00:13:11,266 --> 00:13:13,166
So maybe this lost city
330
00:13:13,166 --> 00:13:15,367
has already been found.
331
00:13:15,367 --> 00:13:18,166
Et-Tell is only a few miles
from Capernaum,
332
00:13:18,166 --> 00:13:21,367
but the tourists don't appear
to be making the trip with me.
333
00:13:22,266 --> 00:13:23,433
Okay.
334
00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:25,367
Where is everybody?
335
00:13:27,166 --> 00:13:29,867
I hike through some
seriously impressive ruins
336
00:13:29,867 --> 00:13:30,000
in search of the archeologist
337
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,634
in search of the archeologist
338
00:13:31,634 --> 00:13:34,333
who discovered this site,
Rami Arav.
339
00:13:35,700 --> 00:13:37,533
Here we go. Rami?
340
00:13:39,100 --> 00:13:40,467
-Rami?
-[Rami] Josh!
341
00:13:40,467 --> 00:13:41,734
Hey! How are you?
342
00:13:41,734 --> 00:13:43,867
-Come! We just
found something.
-You found something!
343
00:13:43,867 --> 00:13:46,066
-[Rami] You gotta
see it. Come.
-[Josh] What did you find?
344
00:13:47,266 --> 00:13:48,367
What did you find?
345
00:13:48,367 --> 00:13:49,500
-This.
-[Josh exclaims]
346
00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:50,600
What!
347
00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,333
Look at this!
348
00:13:57,867 --> 00:13:59,266
This is from, uh, a column?
349
00:13:59,266 --> 00:14:01,166
[Rami] That's a column. Yes.
Part of a column.
350
00:14:01,166 --> 00:14:02,867
-Roman?
-Yep.
351
00:14:02,867 --> 00:14:05,734
[Josh]
Amid first-century ruins
near the Sea of Galilee,
352
00:14:05,734 --> 00:14:07,533
archeologist Rami Arav
353
00:14:07,533 --> 00:14:09,266
believes he's discovered
the lost city
354
00:14:09,266 --> 00:14:13,000
of Jesus and his Apostles,
Bethsaida.
355
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,367
-It is beautiful.
-[Rami] Yeah.
356
00:14:14,367 --> 00:14:16,166
Okay, so where are we?
357
00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:17,734
We are in the middle
of a temple.
358
00:14:17,734 --> 00:14:19,500
-This is a Roman temple.
-That is a Roman temple.
359
00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:20,533
Okay.
360
00:14:20,533 --> 00:14:21,967
It was built in the year 30
361
00:14:21,967 --> 00:14:24,166
and it was dedicated to Julia.
362
00:14:24,166 --> 00:14:24,266
So, if this is
the temple of Julia,
363
00:14:24,266 --> 00:14:25,900
So, if this is
the temple of Julia,
364
00:14:25,900 --> 00:14:29,000
does that mean that we are
in the city of Julius?
365
00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:30,166
Julius.
366
00:14:30,166 --> 00:14:33,734
And Julius, we know
from the Roman histories,
367
00:14:34,166 --> 00:14:35,266
used to be...
368
00:14:35,266 --> 00:14:37,066
-Bethsaida.
-...Bethsaida.
369
00:14:37,066 --> 00:14:39,066
So does that mean
we are standing in Bethsaida?
370
00:14:39,066 --> 00:14:40,367
We are standing in Bethsaida.
371
00:14:40,367 --> 00:14:41,734
That would be incredible.
372
00:14:41,734 --> 00:14:43,500
-So let's
make the case, right?
-All right.
373
00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:44,734
In order to be Bethsaida,
374
00:14:44,734 --> 00:14:47,066
we have to meet
a few criteria, right?
375
00:14:47,066 --> 00:14:49,266
Do we have evidence,
along with this Roman stuff,
376
00:14:49,266 --> 00:14:51,500
do we have evidence
of a Jewish
fishing village here?
377
00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:52,967
Absolutely, no question.
378
00:14:52,967 --> 00:14:54,266
-[Josh] No question?
-No question.
379
00:14:54,266 --> 00:14:54,367
-[Josh] No question?
-No question.
380
00:14:54,367 --> 00:14:56,100
I love how sure you are.
381
00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:58,000
-Show me. Come on.
-All right, let's go.
382
00:14:59,266 --> 00:15:00,533
[Josh] Rami leads me deeper
383
00:15:00,533 --> 00:15:03,266
into the 20-acre
first-century dig site.
384
00:15:03,266 --> 00:15:07,166
His team has found evidence
of fishing net weights
and anchors
385
00:15:07,166 --> 00:15:09,800
here in one very
historic neighborhood.
386
00:15:10,634 --> 00:15:12,367
Josh, look at this.
387
00:15:12,734 --> 00:15:14,066
This is a street.
388
00:15:14,066 --> 00:15:16,533
[Josh] Like, these stones
are the actual cobblestones?
389
00:15:16,533 --> 00:15:18,100
[Rami] Yeah,
actual cobblestones.
390
00:15:18,100 --> 00:15:19,166
[Josh] Amazing.
391
00:15:19,166 --> 00:15:21,266
What is also amazing
about this street
392
00:15:21,266 --> 00:15:23,634
is that this is the place
where the Apostles were born.
393
00:15:23,634 --> 00:15:24,266
-Right.
-Most probably,
they walked on this street.
394
00:15:24,266 --> 00:15:26,266
-Right.
-Most probably,
they walked on this street.
395
00:15:26,266 --> 00:15:29,066
-Can you imagine?
-They walked on here,
396
00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:30,533
right where you
are walking now.
397
00:15:30,533 --> 00:15:33,066
-Jesus may have walked
on this very street.
-[Rami] Jesus...
398
00:15:33,066 --> 00:15:34,734
The very street
where you're walking now.
399
00:15:34,734 --> 00:15:36,100
Right.
400
00:15:36,634 --> 00:15:38,066
You don't have to be religious
401
00:15:38,066 --> 00:15:41,266
in order to feel awe
in a place like this.
402
00:15:41,266 --> 00:15:44,166
Standing on 2,000 years
of history
403
00:15:44,166 --> 00:15:45,634
simply compels it.
404
00:15:46,734 --> 00:15:49,634
I have to say, this place
is really extraordinary.
405
00:15:49,634 --> 00:15:52,634
There's one thing
that's puzzling me.
406
00:15:53,066 --> 00:15:54,266
The water,
407
00:15:54,266 --> 00:15:54,734
The water,
408
00:15:54,734 --> 00:15:56,266
-the Sea of Galilee...
-[Rami] Yep.
409
00:15:56,266 --> 00:15:57,734
[Josh] ...it looks
really far away.
410
00:15:57,734 --> 00:16:00,266
When I think
"fishing village,"
I think, "We're on the water."
411
00:16:00,266 --> 00:16:02,166
-Absolutely.
-That feels like a long way
412
00:16:02,166 --> 00:16:04,000
to carry my fishing nets
and my anchors.
413
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,100
Correct.
414
00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:08,166
[Josh] As critics
of Et-Tell point out,
415
00:16:08,166 --> 00:16:10,266
pretty much
every fishing village
in the world is,
416
00:16:10,266 --> 00:16:12,266
by definition, on the water.
417
00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:13,867
That's where the fish are.
418
00:16:13,867 --> 00:16:16,500
This site not only
sits high on a hill
419
00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:18,100
but it's a mile
from the shore.
420
00:16:18,734 --> 00:16:21,533
-So is that puzzling?
-Yes, of course.
421
00:16:21,533 --> 00:16:23,533
Right. So what's
the answer to the puzzle?
422
00:16:23,533 --> 00:16:24,266
[Rami] So, 2,000 years ago,
423
00:16:24,266 --> 00:16:24,967
[Rami] So, 2,000 years ago,
424
00:16:24,967 --> 00:16:29,100
the lake covered all the area
up to this area.
425
00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:30,900
-This was all flooded?
-This was all covered. Yep.
426
00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:32,266
Uh, there was lagoons
all the way,
427
00:16:32,266 --> 00:16:33,734
-lagoons up to here.
-[Josh] Right.
428
00:16:33,734 --> 00:16:35,634
So would you have been able
to bring a boat
429
00:16:35,634 --> 00:16:37,166
-much closer?
-Yeah, to the, to the...
430
00:16:37,166 --> 00:16:38,533
Yeah, to the lagoons.
431
00:16:38,533 --> 00:16:40,500
Now, does everybody
accept this idea
432
00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:41,734
that there were lagoons here,
433
00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:43,166
or is this a matter of debate?
434
00:16:43,166 --> 00:16:44,634
It's... I... [stutters]
435
00:16:44,634 --> 00:16:46,367
I mean, you'd have to ask
a geologist about that.
436
00:16:46,367 --> 00:16:48,467
-I'm not...
-It's not a matter
of debate for you.
437
00:16:48,467 --> 00:16:50,066
-No.
-This is a question
for geologists.
438
00:16:50,066 --> 00:16:51,266
-Exactly, sir.
-Yes.
439
00:16:52,533 --> 00:16:54,266
For Et-Tell to be the biblical
town of Bethsaida,
440
00:16:54,266 --> 00:16:55,367
For Et-Tell to be the biblical
town of Bethsaida,
441
00:16:55,367 --> 00:16:57,166
it had to have been
on the water.
442
00:16:57,166 --> 00:16:59,867
So one of two things
has to be true.
443
00:16:59,867 --> 00:17:03,066
Either the Sea of Galilee
was higher than it is now
444
00:17:03,066 --> 00:17:05,634
and extended to the base
of the hilltop city
445
00:17:05,634 --> 00:17:08,266
or the water level
was the same as today,
446
00:17:08,266 --> 00:17:10,634
but lagoons
that no longer exist
447
00:17:10,634 --> 00:17:13,867
once connected Et-Tell
to the Sea of Galilee.
448
00:17:13,867 --> 00:17:15,266
To see if either is possible,
449
00:17:15,266 --> 00:17:16,634
I'm meeting a scientist
450
00:17:16,634 --> 00:17:19,734
who's investigating
Rami's claims, Nati Bergman.
451
00:17:20,367 --> 00:17:22,367
Nati. Hey, man.
Nice to meet you.
452
00:17:22,367 --> 00:17:23,634
Nice to meet you, Josh.
453
00:17:23,634 --> 00:17:24,266
-Now, you are
a geomorphologist, right?
-Yeah.
454
00:17:24,266 --> 00:17:26,166
-Now, you are
a geomorphologist, right?
-Yeah.
455
00:17:26,166 --> 00:17:27,734
And the definition of that is?
456
00:17:27,734 --> 00:17:30,266
Uh, how the landscape
is shaping during time.
457
00:17:30,266 --> 00:17:31,734
Okay, great. What are we
gonna do today?
458
00:17:31,734 --> 00:17:33,734
-Well, we're gonna
go up in the air...
-[Josh] Okay.
459
00:17:33,734 --> 00:17:35,066
...take a lot of photos,
460
00:17:35,066 --> 00:17:37,166
connect it
to satellite imagery,
461
00:17:37,166 --> 00:17:41,066
and then build a topographic
model of the shoreline
462
00:17:41,066 --> 00:17:42,734
and get an idea
463
00:17:42,734 --> 00:17:44,734
of how this environment
is shaped up.
464
00:17:44,734 --> 00:17:45,967
Okay, got it.
465
00:17:45,967 --> 00:17:47,266
-You ready to fly?
-Yeah.
466
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:48,467
Please.
467
00:17:52,634 --> 00:17:54,266
[on radio] Ready to
rock and roll.
468
00:17:54,266 --> 00:17:54,467
[on radio] Ready to
rock and roll.
469
00:17:59,867 --> 00:18:02,800
We take off and soar over
the Sea of Galilee.
470
00:18:05,166 --> 00:18:07,634
Soon, we find ourselves
hundreds of feet
471
00:18:07,634 --> 00:18:10,000
above a familiar village.
472
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,166
[on radio]
Okay, Josh, we're over
the side of Et-Tell.
473
00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:13,967
[Josh on radio] This is where
I just was, yes.
474
00:18:13,967 --> 00:18:15,367
I mean, from up here,
475
00:18:15,367 --> 00:18:17,000
you really get a sense
476
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,533
of just how far this place is
477
00:18:18,533 --> 00:18:19,967
-from the Sea of Galilee.
-Yeah.
478
00:18:19,967 --> 00:18:21,367
It's about at least a mile
479
00:18:21,367 --> 00:18:23,367
from the current lake level.
480
00:18:24,367 --> 00:18:26,166
[Josh on radio] Okay,
let's start with the basics.
481
00:18:26,166 --> 00:18:29,166
Does the water
in the Sea of Galilee change?
482
00:18:29,166 --> 00:18:30,867
To understand that,
we need to see
483
00:18:30,867 --> 00:18:32,734
-where the water comes from.
-Okay.
484
00:18:34,066 --> 00:18:35,634
[Nati on radio] So, Josh,
look down here.
485
00:18:35,634 --> 00:18:38,100
this is where the Jordan River
comes into the Sea of Galilee.
486
00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:40,734
[on radio]
So this is the main pipe
that's feeding the bathtub.
487
00:18:40,734 --> 00:18:42,166
-Exactly.
-Got it.
488
00:18:42,166 --> 00:18:44,066
-You notice
where the mouth is...
-Yes.
489
00:18:44,066 --> 00:18:46,266
...and you can see vegetation
that is drowned,
490
00:18:46,266 --> 00:18:48,166
and it used to be above ground
491
00:18:48,166 --> 00:18:49,367
and now it's in the water.
492
00:18:49,367 --> 00:18:50,967
So that tells you
that the lake
493
00:18:50,967 --> 00:18:53,900
fluctuate back and forth
in the last few years.
494
00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:54,266
[Josh] Fluctuations
of a few feet
495
00:18:54,266 --> 00:18:55,634
[Josh] Fluctuations
of a few feet
496
00:18:55,634 --> 00:18:57,967
seem to be
business as usual here,
497
00:18:57,967 --> 00:19:00,533
but could the lake
have reached Et-Tell
in the first century?
498
00:19:00,533 --> 00:19:02,533
As we hover
over the shoreline,
499
00:19:02,533 --> 00:19:05,533
we begin the work to find out.
500
00:19:05,533 --> 00:19:08,066
[Nati on radio] Okay, Josh,
it's time for you
to take some pictures.
501
00:19:08,066 --> 00:19:09,634
-I'm taking the pictures?
-Yeah.
502
00:19:09,634 --> 00:19:10,734
Why?
503
00:19:10,734 --> 00:19:12,734
Well, you're the one
with no door.
504
00:19:12,734 --> 00:19:14,734
Okay. All right, I'm on it.
505
00:19:18,533 --> 00:19:20,900
We'll take hundreds
of overlapping photos
506
00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,467
to create a 3D model
of the lakeshore
507
00:19:23,467 --> 00:19:24,266
to see if and how
508
00:19:24,266 --> 00:19:24,634
to see if and how
509
00:19:24,634 --> 00:19:26,367
water might have
come up to Et-Tell
510
00:19:26,367 --> 00:19:28,066
in the first century.
511
00:19:29,100 --> 00:19:31,533
[on radio] Try to cover
as much shoreline you can get.
512
00:19:32,367 --> 00:19:34,100
[shutter clicking]
513
00:19:34,533 --> 00:19:35,734
[Josh exhales]
514
00:19:35,734 --> 00:19:37,800
I gotta remember to not
look down too much.
515
00:19:40,166 --> 00:19:43,867
So, I know we still have
a lot of photos to take
of the coastline,
516
00:19:43,867 --> 00:19:46,066
but let's look at
the two possibilities here.
517
00:19:46,066 --> 00:19:48,734
First is that,
at one point at Et-Tell,
518
00:19:48,734 --> 00:19:50,634
the place that
calls itself Bethsaida,
519
00:19:50,634 --> 00:19:52,266
the water level
was much higher.
520
00:19:52,266 --> 00:19:53,734
I don't know.
It sounds reasonable.
521
00:19:53,734 --> 00:19:54,266
Water levels
do fluctuate, right?
522
00:19:54,266 --> 00:19:55,467
Water levels
do fluctuate, right?
523
00:19:55,467 --> 00:19:56,867
So do you buy this idea
524
00:19:56,867 --> 00:19:58,734
that the water level
was this much higher?
525
00:19:58,734 --> 00:20:00,166
Well, it's a very nice idea,
526
00:20:00,166 --> 00:20:02,467
but there's something
I learned doing my PhD.
527
00:20:02,467 --> 00:20:03,533
What's that?
528
00:20:03,533 --> 00:20:05,967
Well, people don't live
under water.
529
00:20:05,967 --> 00:20:07,734
[Josh on radio] That's true.
Unless you're Octaman,
530
00:20:07,734 --> 00:20:09,867
people do not
live under water.
But what do you mean by that?
531
00:20:09,867 --> 00:20:11,533
What does that have to do
with anything?
532
00:20:11,533 --> 00:20:14,500
There are other sites
along the lakeshore
533
00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:15,900
that would be under water
534
00:20:15,900 --> 00:20:18,166
if the shoreline
would be at Et-Tell.
535
00:20:18,166 --> 00:20:19,734
Oh, I got it. Okay.
536
00:20:20,634 --> 00:20:22,867
In order for the sea
to reach Et-Tell,
537
00:20:22,867 --> 00:20:24,166
it would have to have been
538
00:20:24,166 --> 00:20:24,266
20 feet higher
than it is today.
539
00:20:24,266 --> 00:20:26,333
20 feet higher
than it is today.
540
00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:28,734
Unfortunately, that means that
541
00:20:28,734 --> 00:20:31,166
several known
first-century villages,
542
00:20:31,166 --> 00:20:32,533
including Capernaum,
543
00:20:32,533 --> 00:20:34,333
would have been
deep under water.
544
00:20:35,634 --> 00:20:37,066
So the Sea of Galilee
545
00:20:37,066 --> 00:20:39,634
clearly could not have been
high enough in Jesus' time
546
00:20:39,634 --> 00:20:40,967
to reach Et-Tell.
547
00:20:40,967 --> 00:20:43,634
But Rami's site
could still be Bethsaida
548
00:20:43,634 --> 00:20:46,634
if there were lagoons
that are no longer there now.
549
00:20:46,634 --> 00:20:48,166
To see if that's possible,
550
00:20:48,166 --> 00:20:51,066
we continue to fly
up the Jordan River.
551
00:20:52,066 --> 00:20:53,533
[Josh on radio] I can see
the geography's
552
00:20:53,533 --> 00:20:54,266
getting much more
dramatic here.
553
00:20:54,266 --> 00:20:55,166
getting much more
dramatic here.
554
00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:57,967
We have these cliffs rising up
on either side of the river.
555
00:20:57,967 --> 00:20:59,266
What's happening here?
556
00:20:59,266 --> 00:21:00,634
Right underneath us
557
00:21:00,634 --> 00:21:03,533
-are two giant
tectonic plates...
-Uh-huh.
558
00:21:03,533 --> 00:21:05,900
[Nati on radio]
...the Arabian Plate
and the African Plate.
559
00:21:05,900 --> 00:21:08,467
How much do those plates
move per year? Do we know?
560
00:21:08,467 --> 00:21:10,500
Uh, it's about
two millimeters a year.
561
00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:12,900
So what's the result
of that movement?
562
00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:15,967
Well, the result
are a lot of earthquakes,
563
00:21:15,967 --> 00:21:18,533
and because of
those earthquakes,
564
00:21:18,533 --> 00:21:20,367
a lot of the sediment
from the slopes
565
00:21:20,367 --> 00:21:22,734
-falls into
the Jordan River...
-[Josh on radio] Got it.
566
00:21:22,734 --> 00:21:24,266
...and it tries to take
that sediment downstream
567
00:21:24,266 --> 00:21:25,266
...and it tries to take
that sediment downstream
568
00:21:25,266 --> 00:21:27,433
towards the lake,
towards the delta.
569
00:21:29,533 --> 00:21:32,166
[Josh] The theory is that
a large seismic event
570
00:21:32,166 --> 00:21:35,166
could have released tons of
sediment from these hills
571
00:21:35,166 --> 00:21:36,867
and filled in ancient lagoons
572
00:21:36,867 --> 00:21:39,467
that connected Et-Tell
to the Galilee.
573
00:21:39,467 --> 00:21:41,100
But is it possible?
574
00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:42,266
Our photogrammetry,
575
00:21:42,266 --> 00:21:44,634
along with data
recorded at ground level,
576
00:21:44,634 --> 00:21:48,266
confirms that the land
at the base of Et-Tell
is very low
577
00:21:48,266 --> 00:21:51,166
and could have once been
partially flooded with water
578
00:21:51,166 --> 00:21:53,233
inundating from
the nearby sea.
579
00:21:54,266 --> 00:21:57,634
However, the amount of soil
required to fill this area
580
00:21:57,634 --> 00:21:58,967
is immense
581
00:21:58,967 --> 00:22:00,734
and we don't have
any indicator
582
00:22:00,734 --> 00:22:02,166
of a more modern earthquake
583
00:22:02,166 --> 00:22:04,533
that shows
this kind of soil movement,
584
00:22:04,533 --> 00:22:07,233
which means
the jury is still out.
585
00:22:08,166 --> 00:22:10,333
But Nati points out
an alternative.
586
00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:13,967
[Nati on radio]
There's another site here
called El Araj.
587
00:22:13,967 --> 00:22:17,000
They believe
this could be Bethsaida.
588
00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,734
[Josh] El Araj recently
made headlines for a discovery
589
00:22:19,734 --> 00:22:23,066
that they have yet to
fully reveal to the world.
590
00:22:23,066 --> 00:22:24,266
Naturally, I'm anxious
to get there
and see it for myself.
591
00:22:24,266 --> 00:22:25,967
Naturally, I'm anxious
to get there
and see it for myself.
592
00:22:25,967 --> 00:22:29,000
Afterall, it could be
Bethsaida.
593
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,734
[on radio] Okay,
let's bring it home.
594
00:22:31,533 --> 00:22:33,533
Only a few hundred feet below,
595
00:22:33,533 --> 00:22:36,634
does the true
city of miracles await?
596
00:22:42,266 --> 00:22:44,367
I'm on the shores
of the Sea of Galilee
597
00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:45,800
searching for the lost city
598
00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,867
of Jesus and his Apostles,
Bethsaida.
599
00:22:48,867 --> 00:22:52,367
A new find
at a new archeological site
called El Araj
600
00:22:52,367 --> 00:22:53,867
has stirred speculation
601
00:22:53,867 --> 00:22:57,266
that this is Bethsaida's
true location.
602
00:22:57,266 --> 00:22:59,900
Here to greet me
is one of the men
who made the discovery,
603
00:22:59,900 --> 00:23:01,867
Professor R. Steven Notley.
604
00:23:03,166 --> 00:23:04,467
-Hey!
-[Steven] How are you?
605
00:23:04,467 --> 00:23:06,367
-Good, man. Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you.
606
00:23:06,367 --> 00:23:08,166
So this site behind you here,
607
00:23:08,166 --> 00:23:09,157
uh, I take it you think
608
00:23:09,157 --> 00:23:09,500
uh, I take it you think
609
00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:11,000
this is Bethsaida.
610
00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:12,634
[Steve] Yes, absolutely.
611
00:23:12,634 --> 00:23:14,100
Why is this maybe Bethsaida?
612
00:23:14,100 --> 00:23:16,100
Because, as we
look at this site,
613
00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:18,166
it actually has
first-century remains...
614
00:23:18,166 --> 00:23:20,100
-[Josh] Right.
-...uh, that indicate
a settlement here.
615
00:23:20,100 --> 00:23:21,233
...settlement here.
616
00:23:21,233 --> 00:23:23,867
-We found 100s
of, uh, lead weights.
-[Josh] Mm-hmm.
617
00:23:23,867 --> 00:23:25,266
That go with nets for--
618
00:23:25,266 --> 00:23:28,700
Indicate that there's
a substantial fishing industry
at this place.
619
00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:32,166
-Okay. Yes.
-And here,
we're right on the water.
620
00:23:32,166 --> 00:23:34,533
-The Sea of Galilee
is lapping against this site.
-[Steven] Yes.
621
00:23:34,533 --> 00:23:38,166
[Josh] So we have
evidence here of a thriving
fishing community
622
00:23:38,166 --> 00:23:39,157
-in the first century A.D.,
in the right time period.
-[Steven] Exactly.
623
00:23:39,157 --> 00:23:41,266
-in the first century A.D.,
in the right time period.
-[Steven] Exactly.
624
00:23:41,266 --> 00:23:42,700
So... so that's
a big check mark already.
625
00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:44,266
Yes, but that's not all.
626
00:23:44,266 --> 00:23:47,500
We've recently made
a discovery that
is astonishing
627
00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:50,100
and connects this place
directly to Bethsaida.
628
00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:52,166
-Would you like to see it?
-Yeah, I'm dying to see it.
629
00:23:52,166 --> 00:23:53,333
[Steven] Let's go.
630
00:23:54,367 --> 00:23:57,100
[Josh] Steven leads me through
a very active dig site
631
00:23:57,100 --> 00:24:01,066
to meet his colleague,
Israeli archaeologist,
Motti Aviam.
632
00:24:01,066 --> 00:24:02,266
This is incredible here.
633
00:24:02,266 --> 00:24:04,900
Give me some context.
Where are we
in the site right now?
634
00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:07,867
-Josh, you are in a church.
But not just any church.
-[Josh] Okay.
635
00:24:07,867 --> 00:24:09,157
This is a basilica,
which is a very specific
architectural structure.
636
00:24:09,157 --> 00:24:11,867
This is a basilica,
which is a very specific
architectural structure.
637
00:24:11,867 --> 00:24:15,166
[Josh] Okay.
So Motti, when are we?
When was this built?
638
00:24:15,166 --> 00:24:18,600
Uh, this church was built
somewhere at the end
of the fifth,
639
00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,000
beginning of sixth century.
640
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,867
-This is the Byzantine era,
right?
-Yeah.
641
00:24:21,867 --> 00:24:25,734
Take me back in time,
what would this basilica
have looked like.
642
00:24:25,734 --> 00:24:27,700
This is a large building, uh,
643
00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:31,533
facing to the east.
It means that the apse
is on the eastern side.
644
00:24:31,533 --> 00:24:33,800
[Josh] Right. So this...
this curved area,
this is the end of the church.
645
00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,166
This is the apse.
646
00:24:35,166 --> 00:24:39,157
And, uh two rows of columns
supported the large
roof red tiles.
647
00:24:39,157 --> 00:24:40,634
And, uh two rows of columns
supported the large
roof red tiles.
648
00:24:40,634 --> 00:24:44,467
-And I'm just now noticing
all of this is mosaic.
-[Motti] Yes.
649
00:24:44,467 --> 00:24:46,500
[Josh] Not just
a little mosaic either.
650
00:24:46,500 --> 00:24:50,166
The intricate tile work
stretches across
the entire floor
651
00:24:50,166 --> 00:24:51,734
from wall to wall.
652
00:24:51,734 --> 00:24:54,100
Along with the mosaic floors,
653
00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:57,867
I read that you found
mosaic inscriptions
in the floors.
654
00:24:57,867 --> 00:25:00,166
-Yes.
-Yes? How many inscriptions
have you found total?
655
00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:01,900
We found three inscriptions.
656
00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:06,367
Two of them
are in the main hall,
they preserved only partially.
657
00:25:06,367 --> 00:25:09,157
Right over here
we have third inscription,
which preserved completely.
658
00:25:09,157 --> 00:25:10,266
Right over here
we have third inscription,
which preserved completely.
659
00:25:10,266 --> 00:25:11,634
It's below your feet.
660
00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:13,734
[Josh]
Literally below my feet?
661
00:25:13,734 --> 00:25:15,100
-Yep.
-Completely.
662
00:25:15,100 --> 00:25:17,166
-Like, under the dirt?
-Under the dirt.
663
00:25:17,166 --> 00:25:18,600
And why is it covered?
664
00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:22,266
It's covered because
we wanted to protect it
after we discovered it.
665
00:25:22,266 --> 00:25:24,700
And this inscription
is the one that connects
to Bethsaida, yes?
666
00:25:24,700 --> 00:25:25,700
Yes.
667
00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:27,800
Is it possible to see
what's down here?
668
00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:29,500
Yes, we'll have to work
a little bit.
669
00:25:29,500 --> 00:25:30,600
I'm not afraid of work.
670
00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:32,700
Put on your gloves
and let's go do the work.
671
00:25:32,700 --> 00:25:35,166
-Oh, manual labor.
I didn't realize.
-[Steven laughs]
672
00:25:36,634 --> 00:25:39,157
[Josh] Before you can say,
"Hail Mary" I'm geared up
and moving dirt.
673
00:25:39,157 --> 00:25:40,333
[Josh] Before you can say,
"Hail Mary" I'm geared up
and moving dirt.
674
00:25:43,900 --> 00:25:46,467
The floor beneath our feet
is priceless.
675
00:25:46,467 --> 00:25:48,967
So the work needs to be
very, very careful.
676
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:52,367
Getting close?
677
00:25:52,367 --> 00:25:53,967
-[Motti] You can smell it.
-[Josh laughs]
678
00:25:55,100 --> 00:25:57,100
We've made it through
most of the top soil.
679
00:25:57,100 --> 00:25:59,467
But to see what's hidden
beneath the final layer,
680
00:25:59,467 --> 00:26:01,734
we're gonna need to use
a little finesse.
681
00:26:04,634 --> 00:26:06,533
-Whoa.
-[Motti] Huh? Huh?
682
00:26:06,533 --> 00:26:08,533
[Josh] Yes, look at
this black mosaic, right here.
683
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:09,157
-This is the inscription.
-[Steven] Yep.
684
00:26:09,157 --> 00:26:10,166
-This is the inscription.
-[Steven] Yep.
685
00:26:10,166 --> 00:26:13,100
[Josh] Oh, my word.
686
00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:17,800
And this floor that
we're revealing right now,
this was laid down when?
687
00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,900
[Motti] It was laid down
at the end
of the sixth century.
688
00:26:21,900 --> 00:26:26,467
-So we're revealing
a 1,400-year-old inscription?
-[Motti] Exactly.
689
00:26:26,467 --> 00:26:27,900
This is what we do
in archaeology.
690
00:26:30,266 --> 00:26:33,800
[Josh]
Millimeter by millimeter
we expose ancient letters
691
00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,166
from beneath the soil.
692
00:26:35,166 --> 00:26:38,700
But making them legible
is going to take
a little more work.
693
00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:39,157
-What's the next step?
-Next step is washing it.
694
00:26:39,157 --> 00:26:40,734
-What's the next step?
-Next step is washing it.
695
00:26:40,734 --> 00:26:43,800
-Okay. Please.
-[Motti] Steve.
696
00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:48,066
[Josh] With the dirt
swept away all it takes
is some water and elbow grease
697
00:26:48,066 --> 00:26:49,967
for the past to shine through.
698
00:26:50,467 --> 00:26:52,066
Wow, look at that.
699
00:26:53,634 --> 00:26:56,734
Oh, it's just coming to life.
That's unbelievable.
700
00:26:58,166 --> 00:27:00,266
-Can I use the scrubber?
-[Steven] Sure.
701
00:27:00,266 --> 00:27:03,166
[Josh] If it looks like
we shouldn't be doing this,
don't worry.
702
00:27:03,166 --> 00:27:06,734
The mosaic has lasted
14 centuries in a harsh world.
703
00:27:06,734 --> 00:27:09,157
A little spit and polish
ain't gonna hurt it.
704
00:27:09,157 --> 00:27:09,266
A little spit and polish
ain't gonna hurt it.
705
00:27:09,266 --> 00:27:12,533
Wow. My brain
is exploding right now.
706
00:27:12,533 --> 00:27:14,066
[laughs]
707
00:27:14,066 --> 00:27:17,066
-It looks like it was written
just few hours ago.
-[Josh] It really does.
708
00:27:18,266 --> 00:27:21,900
I can't describe what an honor
it is to be able see this
709
00:27:21,900 --> 00:27:24,000
and to reveal it to the world
in its entirety
710
00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,734
for the very first time.
711
00:27:29,166 --> 00:27:31,600
This is unbelievable.
712
00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,800
I mean, look at this,
it's extraordinary.
713
00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,266
The entire inscription
is here.
714
00:27:36,266 --> 00:27:37,900
[Motti] Not a letter
is missing.
715
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,367
[Josh] In the news articles,
I saw like a corner of this
but not the whole thing.
716
00:27:44,367 --> 00:27:48,700
Really this is the first time
publicly it's being
shown clearly.
717
00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:51,867
This is the first time
the world has seen this
in 1,400 years?
718
00:27:51,867 --> 00:27:54,734
-Yep. Amazing, isn't it?
-[Josh] Heh. It's unreal.
719
00:27:57,367 --> 00:28:00,066
Okay, now the big question,
what does it say?
720
00:28:00,066 --> 00:28:03,066
I read ancient Greek
about as well as
I swing dance.
721
00:28:03,066 --> 00:28:05,166
Fortunately,
Steven and Motti have
722
00:28:05,166 --> 00:28:08,634
Professor Jacob Ashkenazi
on hand to do the translating.
723
00:28:08,634 --> 00:28:09,157
Okay, so Professor,
help us out here.
What does it say?
724
00:28:09,157 --> 00:28:11,967
Okay, so Professor,
help us out here.
What does it say?
725
00:28:12,500 --> 00:28:13,634
[Jacob] The word here,
726
00:28:13,634 --> 00:28:15,100
[speaking Ancient Greek]
727
00:28:15,100 --> 00:28:17,367
[in English] It means
the chief.
728
00:28:17,367 --> 00:28:18,800
[speaks Ancient Greek]
of what?
729
00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,467
-Right the chief of "what"?
Uh-huh.
-Chief of what?
730
00:28:20,867 --> 00:28:22,000
[Jacob] Of...
731
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,266
[speaking Ancient Greek]
732
00:28:24,266 --> 00:28:26,066
[in English] The Apostles.
733
00:28:26,066 --> 00:28:29,500
-The Apostles?
Chief of the Apostles?
-Chief of the Apostles.
734
00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:31,000
-Peter?
-[Steven] Peter.
735
00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:32,800
-Peter is-- Nobody else.
-[Jacob] Saint Peter.
736
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,867
-He is the chief
of the Apostles.
-Okay.
737
00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,157
The apostle, Peter,
who of course
was from Bethsaida
738
00:28:39,157 --> 00:28:39,500
The apostle, Peter,
who of course
was from Bethsaida
739
00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:43,066
was first among equals
in Jesus' devout dozen.
740
00:28:43,066 --> 00:28:46,166
It was to Peter
that Jesus would entrust
his church
741
00:28:46,166 --> 00:28:49,467
and to whom he gave
the keys to the kingdom
of heaven.
742
00:28:49,467 --> 00:28:52,867
Now I'm reading his title
right here on the floor.
743
00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:58,467
So there is no doubt at all
that we are talking
about Peter.
744
00:28:58,467 --> 00:28:59,533
-[Motti] Zero doubt.
-Zero.
745
00:28:59,533 --> 00:29:04,000
How common is it to find
an inscription like this,
746
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,467
that is a dedication
to Saint Peter?
747
00:29:06,467 --> 00:29:07,533
Zero common.
748
00:29:07,533 --> 00:29:09,157
-This has not happened before.
-This is a unique one.
749
00:29:09,157 --> 00:29:09,367
-This has not happened before.
-This is a unique one.
750
00:29:09,367 --> 00:29:14,066
So when you first found this,
what was your reaction?
751
00:29:14,066 --> 00:29:16,600
It's not a smoking gun.
It's a bomb. Okay.
752
00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,900
We have 100s of years
after the time
of the apostles.
753
00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:23,467
In the Byzantine era,
this beautiful basilica
is built here
754
00:29:23,467 --> 00:29:27,000
-and appears to be dedicated
to the apostle, Peter.
-Yes.
755
00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,166
So why would they have
done that?
756
00:29:29,166 --> 00:29:34,467
I think the church here
commemorates the home
of Peter, Andrew and Philip.
757
00:29:34,467 --> 00:29:37,900
[Josh] Byzantine churches
like this were frequently
placed atop sites
758
00:29:37,900 --> 00:29:39,157
believed to have been
the locations
of biblical events.
759
00:29:39,157 --> 00:29:41,367
believed to have been
the locations
of biblical events.
760
00:29:41,367 --> 00:29:44,634
Hence, the church has become
destination for the pilgrims.
761
00:29:46,634 --> 00:29:48,467
This is very
compelling evidence.
762
00:29:48,467 --> 00:29:51,100
This is something that
you don't often get at
an archaeological site
763
00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:53,467
in the Holy Land.
A complete inscription.
764
00:29:53,467 --> 00:29:55,266
One word is missing.
The title.
765
00:29:55,266 --> 00:29:56,634
Right. That's it.
766
00:29:56,634 --> 00:29:59,533
-If it said Bethsaida then
it would be a done deal.
-[Steven] Yeah.
767
00:29:59,533 --> 00:30:01,066
But just short of that.
768
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,900
There is yet hope
for finding that one word.
769
00:30:04,900 --> 00:30:07,867
The basilicas mosaic floor
continues outward
770
00:30:07,867 --> 00:30:09,157
and it could contain
more inscriptions.
771
00:30:09,157 --> 00:30:10,333
and it could contain
more inscriptions.
772
00:30:11,467 --> 00:30:14,100
-Here we only have pieces
of the mosaic floor.
-Right.
773
00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:15,533
And here we have a wall.
774
00:30:15,533 --> 00:30:19,600
This is a later wall.
It is from the 12th,
13th century crusader period.
775
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,066
[Josh] The wall is covering
the original mosaic.
776
00:30:22,066 --> 00:30:25,900
And since an inscription
could confirm that
this is Bethsaida,
777
00:30:25,900 --> 00:30:27,266
the choice is simple.
778
00:30:27,266 --> 00:30:29,367
The wall has got to go.
779
00:30:29,367 --> 00:30:30,800
Anything could be under here.
780
00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:32,700
There's always surprises
in archaeology.
781
00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:35,800
-That's right. Okay.
So, shall we see what's there?
-Let's go.
782
00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:36,867
Let's move the wall.
783
00:30:42,066 --> 00:30:44,066
[dramatic music playing]
784
00:30:44,066 --> 00:30:46,233
-Dirty enough. [laughs]
-Not yet.
785
00:30:46,867 --> 00:30:48,867
We got lots of dirt for that.
786
00:30:48,867 --> 00:30:53,266
[Josh] The lost city
of Bethsaida, where Jesus
reportedly walked on water,
787
00:30:53,266 --> 00:30:56,533
may be beneath the ruins
of this medieval wall.
788
00:30:56,533 --> 00:30:58,967
The wall was built
one stone at a time.
789
00:30:58,967 --> 00:31:01,066
And we're taking it down
the same way.
790
00:31:06,066 --> 00:31:09,100
The team's project manager
Achia Kohn-Tavor
791
00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:10,205
stands nearby to preserve
any artefacts
we find.
792
00:31:10,205 --> 00:31:12,700
stands nearby to preserve
any artefacts
we find.
793
00:31:12,700 --> 00:31:15,734
Like the pottery that
is literally wedged
in the mortar.
794
00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,600
[Achia] Fifth, sixth,
seventh century,
something like that.
795
00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:22,734
-Uh, you know,
very fancy dishes.
-[Josh] How cool is that?
796
00:31:25,166 --> 00:31:27,000
But the pottery
is just the beginning
797
00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,367
of what we find
built into this wall.
798
00:31:29,367 --> 00:31:31,600
Like, ancient Roman glass.
799
00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:34,367
-How beautiful is that?
-How delicate it is.
800
00:31:34,367 --> 00:31:36,467
I mean, so thin.
801
00:31:37,367 --> 00:31:39,000
Pieces of marble--
802
00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,205
If we get enough of these,
I'm gonna redo
my kitchen counter.
803
00:31:40,205 --> 00:31:41,000
If we get enough of these,
I'm gonna redo
my kitchen counter.
804
00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,533
-So, hold onto this.
-[Achia laughs]
805
00:31:42,533 --> 00:31:45,467
[Josh] ...and shards
of finely made vessels.
806
00:31:45,467 --> 00:31:48,800
-That's a handle.
-What! That is insane.
807
00:31:51,867 --> 00:31:55,166
[Josh] So this would
either be, like, an offering
brought to the church
808
00:31:55,166 --> 00:31:57,533
-or something that a pilgrim
would take from the church.
-Probably, yeah.
809
00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,205
And in this case, holy oil,
maybe from the church of Peter
810
00:32:10,205 --> 00:32:10,867
And in this case, holy oil,
maybe from the church of Peter
811
00:32:10,867 --> 00:32:12,166
-or the Church
of the Apostles.
-[Achia] Yeah. Yep.
812
00:32:12,166 --> 00:32:14,367
-[Achia] Yeah. Yeah.
-[Josh] Right? Wow.
813
00:32:14,367 --> 00:32:19,166
This maybe more evidence
of a place visited by
Christian pilgrims.
814
00:32:19,166 --> 00:32:23,100
Something that could be
verified by additional
inscriptions on the floor.
815
00:32:26,867 --> 00:32:28,634
Watch your finger.
816
00:32:39,867 --> 00:32:40,205
After a few hours,
we removed the final blocks
817
00:32:40,205 --> 00:32:42,600
After a few hours,
we removed the final blocks
818
00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:44,367
and the last bit of dirt.
819
00:32:44,367 --> 00:32:49,734
Beneath the edges of the wall
more beautiful mosaic tiles
from the Byzantine church.
820
00:32:49,734 --> 00:32:52,066
Hundreds of literal
puzzle pieces
821
00:32:52,066 --> 00:32:55,000
slotting together
into a work of art.
822
00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:58,500
But we find
no additional inscriptions
mixed in,
823
00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:02,066
which leaves us
with an incomplete picture
of El-Araj.
824
00:33:02,066 --> 00:33:05,066
We definitely have
a fishing village
on the water.
825
00:33:05,066 --> 00:33:06,600
Check and check.
826
00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:08,734
And this remarkable church.
827
00:33:09,166 --> 00:33:10,205
But somebody might say,
828
00:33:10,205 --> 00:33:10,600
But somebody might say,
829
00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:14,600
"Hey, you know,
just because you've got
a Byzantine church here
830
00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,533
that doesn't mean that
this is Bethsaida."
831
00:33:16,533 --> 00:33:18,000
If it was just the church,
832
00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,000
-then you could
have some doubts.
-Right.
833
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,600
What you need together
with that is evidence
834
00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:24,500
of what we read
in the historical sources
835
00:33:24,500 --> 00:33:27,734
about a site that
becomes a Romanpolis.
836
00:33:27,734 --> 00:33:29,500
-[Josh] Right. Right.
-A Roman city.
837
00:33:29,500 --> 00:33:31,367
[Josh] For El-Araj
to be Bethsaida,
838
00:33:31,367 --> 00:33:35,367
Steven and Motti need to prove
that it was once a Romanpolis,
839
00:33:35,367 --> 00:33:37,867
which means
it has to be bigger
than the single church
840
00:33:37,867 --> 00:33:39,533
they're exploring.
841
00:33:39,533 --> 00:33:40,205
An aerial scan of the site
could help reveal the extent
of El-Araj for the first time.
842
00:33:40,205 --> 00:33:44,867
An aerial scan of the site
could help reveal the extent
of El-Araj for the first time.
843
00:33:44,867 --> 00:33:48,734
If it's too small,
it's a village
and not Bethsaida.
844
00:33:48,734 --> 00:33:51,700
For help they've brought in
Terralog Innovation.
845
00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:56,066
A company run by Avi Buzaglo
and his son, Eldar.
846
00:33:56,066 --> 00:33:58,066
How big an area
are we gonna be
scanning today?
847
00:33:58,066 --> 00:34:02,533
So we're gonna fly like a,
grid of around
one and a half square miles.
848
00:34:02,533 --> 00:34:04,467
-Okay, should we do it?
-Let's do it.
849
00:34:04,467 --> 00:34:05,634
[Motti and Josh] Let's go.
850
00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:09,266
[Avi] Okay, we're ready to go
and up.
851
00:34:09,266 --> 00:34:10,205
-You can take off.
-[Eldar] Taking off.
852
00:34:10,205 --> 00:34:11,066
-You can take off.
-[Eldar] Taking off.
853
00:34:11,066 --> 00:34:12,533
-There we go.
-[drone whirring]
854
00:34:14,867 --> 00:34:16,367
[Josh] She's up!
855
00:34:16,367 --> 00:34:19,266
This drone is carrying
a special payload.
856
00:34:19,266 --> 00:34:22,000
Strapped to the bottom
is a state-of-the-art
magnetometer,
857
00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,266
which is measuring
the Earth's magnetic field.
858
00:34:24,266 --> 00:34:28,166
Able to extrapolate
the location of stonewalls
and structures
859
00:34:28,166 --> 00:34:29,533
buried beneath the surface.
860
00:34:31,867 --> 00:34:34,166
-Um, so what do we do?
-We wait.
861
00:34:34,166 --> 00:34:35,900
-We wait. I'm good at that.
-[Avi laughs]
862
00:34:40,066 --> 00:34:40,205
[Josh] The drone flies
through a pre-programmed grid
863
00:34:40,205 --> 00:34:43,066
[Josh] The drone flies
through a pre-programmed grid
864
00:34:43,066 --> 00:34:46,333
covering over
a square mile and a half
near the basilica.
865
00:34:49,066 --> 00:34:51,467
Until it finishes its course
and lands.
866
00:34:51,467 --> 00:34:54,600
And we extract the data
for analysis.
867
00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:57,734
Let's see how big
this ancient town really is.
868
00:34:58,500 --> 00:35:00,433
All right. What do we have?
The big moment.
869
00:35:01,634 --> 00:35:04,700
-Whoa!
-Oh! Oh.
870
00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:07,166
-Is this construction,
all these red areas?
-[Avi] Yeah.
871
00:35:07,166 --> 00:35:09,867
[Motti] I assume that
all these walls,
872
00:35:09,867 --> 00:35:10,205
are the Roman village.
And-- We have it. We have
houses from the Roman period.
873
00:35:10,205 --> 00:35:15,634
are the Roman village.
And-- We have it. We have
houses from the Roman period.
874
00:35:15,634 --> 00:35:20,000
[Josh] The data reveals
structures that Motti believes
to be from the first century.
875
00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:22,000
The era of the Apostles.
876
00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:26,166
That's, uh, surprising.
Because on surface
we've seen nothing.
877
00:35:26,166 --> 00:35:27,700
Right, it's just vegetation
out there.
878
00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:28,867
[Motti] It's just vegetation.
879
00:35:28,867 --> 00:35:31,000
[Josh] And did you expect
there would be this much here?
880
00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,500
-I want to. [laughs]
-[Josh] You hoped.
881
00:35:33,500 --> 00:35:34,634
This is unbelievable.
882
00:35:34,634 --> 00:35:35,867
-Yes.
-[Avi] It is. It is.
883
00:35:35,867 --> 00:35:37,700
And, and just for reference,
this here,
884
00:35:37,700 --> 00:35:40,166
this... this is the tarping
on the main site
885
00:35:40,166 --> 00:35:40,205
-of the Byzantine church.
-[Motti] Yes.
886
00:35:40,205 --> 00:35:41,500
-of the Byzantine church.
-[Motti] Yes.
887
00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:43,467
And look at
the size of this area.
888
00:35:43,467 --> 00:35:47,266
-And you can see the edges
up here and up here.
-[Josh] Right.
889
00:35:47,266 --> 00:35:51,367
-It means that
the site is much larger.
-Right. It must extend out.
890
00:35:51,367 --> 00:35:52,500
Extend out no doubt.
891
00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:54,500
-[Josh] 'Cause we see walls
or disturbances--
-Yes.
892
00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:57,066
-[Josh] ...right on the edges
of all of this.
-Yes.
893
00:35:57,066 --> 00:35:59,600
I mean, this...
this is incredible.
894
00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:03,734
So if you had to guess,
how far do you think
this site extends?
895
00:36:04,500 --> 00:36:07,233
I would assume, uh, 15 acres.
896
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,100
[Josh] In the first century,
897
00:36:09,100 --> 00:36:10,205
fifteen acres
was a sizeable settlement.
898
00:36:10,205 --> 00:36:11,867
fifteen acres
was a sizeable settlement.
899
00:36:11,867 --> 00:36:14,533
Certainly big enough
for consideration as a polis.
900
00:36:15,367 --> 00:36:18,100
So when we put
all of this together, right?
901
00:36:18,100 --> 00:36:23,066
We have evidence
of this fishing village here,
this Jewish fishing village
902
00:36:23,066 --> 00:36:24,433
on the shores
of Sea of Galilee.
903
00:36:24,433 --> 00:36:27,734
Hundreds of years later,
we have this beautiful
Byzantine church dedicated
904
00:36:27,734 --> 00:36:30,467
to Peter the apostle.
905
00:36:30,467 --> 00:36:33,500
Now we have evidence here,
geo physical evidence that
906
00:36:33,500 --> 00:36:35,734
this is a polis, a Roman city.
907
00:36:35,734 --> 00:36:38,233
When you put
all of this together,
what does it say to you?
908
00:36:49,367 --> 00:36:50,600
You think this is the place?
909
00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:51,800
I think this is the place.
910
00:36:53,967 --> 00:36:55,967
[Josh] El-Araj,
like Et-Tell before it
911
00:36:55,967 --> 00:36:59,700
has a strong case
for being the city
of miracles.
912
00:36:59,700 --> 00:37:03,500
But for now,
more work needs to be done
exploring both sites.
913
00:37:03,500 --> 00:37:06,800
And there's enough
to keep these guys busy
until the Second Coming.
914
00:37:12,066 --> 00:37:14,266
As for me, I've just got word
of something,
915
00:37:14,266 --> 00:37:16,600
well, kind of miraculous.
916
00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,867
Another site nearby
that isn't claiming
to be Bethsaida,
917
00:37:19,867 --> 00:37:24,467
but where a new discovery may
tie it to the apostle, Peter
in a shocking way.
918
00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:29,634
I travelled to the ruins
of what was once
the regional capital.
919
00:37:29,634 --> 00:37:32,700
A place known as
Caesarea Philippi.
920
00:37:32,700 --> 00:37:34,367
Even before the Romans
were here,
921
00:37:34,367 --> 00:37:36,600
this place
was considered sacred.
922
00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:40,205
Home to a natural spring that
flows out of the rocks
and into the Sea of Galilee.
923
00:37:40,205 --> 00:37:41,734
Home to a natural spring that
flows out of the rocks
and into the Sea of Galilee.
924
00:37:41,734 --> 00:37:45,066
Deep inside the site,
I find an active dig.
925
00:37:45,066 --> 00:37:48,000
-Hello. Howdy?
-Hi. She's over there.
926
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:49,433
Uh-huh. Thank you.
927
00:37:49,433 --> 00:37:53,367
Near the back of the ruins
beneath a soaring grotto
in the side of a cliff
928
00:37:53,367 --> 00:37:55,867
I find archaeologist,
Adi Erlich.
929
00:37:55,867 --> 00:37:57,700
-Please.
-[Josh] Hi, I'm Josh.
Nice to meet you.
930
00:37:57,700 --> 00:37:59,367
Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Adi.
931
00:37:59,367 --> 00:38:01,000
What an incredible site.
932
00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:03,100
This place is like,
otherworldly.
933
00:38:05,166 --> 00:38:08,166
So few 1,000 years ago,
this would have looked like,
what?
934
00:38:08,166 --> 00:38:09,367
It was full of water.
935
00:38:09,367 --> 00:38:10,205
Very, very deep water
as we are told
by the ancient sources.
936
00:38:10,205 --> 00:38:13,100
Very, very deep water
as we are told
by the ancient sources.
937
00:38:13,100 --> 00:38:14,367
[Josh] So this would have been
a very
938
00:38:14,367 --> 00:38:16,634
-mystical kind of place,
right?
-[Adi] Yeah.
939
00:38:16,634 --> 00:38:19,367
A dark grotto,
flooded with deep water.
940
00:38:19,367 --> 00:38:22,867
We know the place started
to be dedicated
to the god Pan
941
00:38:22,867 --> 00:38:25,734
-in the third century B.C.E.
-Okay. I know Pan.
942
00:38:25,734 --> 00:38:27,734
-Human on top,
goat on the bottom.
-[Adi] Exactly.
943
00:38:27,734 --> 00:38:32,967
Horns. Pan is the god of like,
nature, wilderness, shepherds,
things like that, right?
944
00:38:32,967 --> 00:38:34,266
Exactly.
945
00:38:34,266 --> 00:38:37,000
So the Romans start
coming here to worship
and building things here
946
00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:37,967
in the first century.
947
00:38:37,967 --> 00:38:39,967
-Yes.
-Christianity hasn't
caught on yet,
948
00:38:39,967 --> 00:38:40,205
-it's not a thing just yet.
-[Adi] No.
949
00:38:40,205 --> 00:38:41,166
-it's not a thing just yet.
-[Adi] No.
950
00:38:41,166 --> 00:38:43,734
-So we're still worshipping
gods like Pan?
-[Adi] Exactly.
951
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,700
[Josh] This site was once home
to Roman temples.
952
00:38:47,700 --> 00:38:49,734
So when Adi's team
began to dig
953
00:38:49,734 --> 00:38:52,166
she expected to find
pagan ruins.
954
00:38:52,166 --> 00:38:54,967
Instead, they made a discovery
that may change
955
00:38:54,967 --> 00:38:57,900
what we know
about the origins
of Christianity.
956
00:38:59,467 --> 00:39:00,900
-Wow.
-[Adi] Yeah.
957
00:39:00,900 --> 00:39:04,734
-Look what we found here.
-[Josh] Unbelievable.
Beautiful mosaic floor.
958
00:39:04,734 --> 00:39:06,367
[Adi] We were amazed
to find this floor,
959
00:39:06,367 --> 00:39:10,205
I mean, why would
we have a mosaic floor
in a cultic place
960
00:39:10,205 --> 00:39:11,266
I mean, why would
we have a mosaic floor
in a cultic place
961
00:39:11,266 --> 00:39:12,634
to the god Pan.
962
00:39:12,634 --> 00:39:16,500
-Right.
-[Adi] And then we realized
that this floor is much later.
963
00:39:16,500 --> 00:39:18,734
During the fifth century C.E.,
964
00:39:18,734 --> 00:39:20,734
the place has become
a beautiful church.
965
00:39:20,734 --> 00:39:22,166
They built a church here?
966
00:39:22,166 --> 00:39:25,734
-They built a church here.
-[Josh] In the middle of this
pagan grotto
967
00:39:25,734 --> 00:39:28,500
-there's a Byzantine church.
-[Adi] Exactly.
968
00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:32,700
[Josh] Unlike at El-Araj, this
floor didn't have any
intact inscriptions.
969
00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:36,734
However, Adi's team
found something else
that speaks volumes.
970
00:39:36,734 --> 00:39:40,205
A major clue that this church
was another pilgrimage site.
971
00:39:40,205 --> 00:39:41,100
A major clue that this church
was another pilgrimage site.
972
00:39:41,100 --> 00:39:44,367
Josh, I would like you
to have a look at this stone.
973
00:39:44,367 --> 00:39:47,266
-Yes, here?
-Yes, this unique slab
of stone.
974
00:39:47,266 --> 00:39:50,967
-[Josh] Uh-huh.
-This is one of the reasons
that make us think
975
00:39:50,967 --> 00:39:55,967
this is not yet another
ordinary church
but a pilgrim center.
976
00:39:55,967 --> 00:39:59,734
-This stone carries
rows of crosses.
-[Josh softly] Oh, yeah.
977
00:39:59,734 --> 00:40:00,634
Look at that.
978
00:40:01,734 --> 00:40:02,734
There's crosses all over this.
979
00:40:02,734 --> 00:40:04,533
That is crazy.
980
00:40:09,166 --> 00:40:11,266
[upbeat music playing]
981
00:40:11,266 --> 00:40:13,634
[Josh] Expedition Unknown
is a well-oiled machine
982
00:40:13,634 --> 00:40:17,533
that requires every member
of my team to stay
laser-focused.
983
00:40:17,533 --> 00:40:21,233
Unless you're my camera guy,
Ryan at the world's oldest
tattoo parlor.
984
00:40:22,734 --> 00:40:23,867
-[machinery whirring]
-Dude, what is going on?
985
00:40:23,867 --> 00:40:25,100
Getting a tattoo.
986
00:40:25,100 --> 00:40:26,533
What do you mean
you're "getting a tattoo"?
987
00:40:26,533 --> 00:40:28,367
I can't not come here
and not get a tattoo.
988
00:40:28,367 --> 00:40:29,734
-Dude, you're working.
-I know.
989
00:40:29,734 --> 00:40:32,533
-See?
-[Josh laughs]
990
00:40:32,533 --> 00:40:35,367
-Well, okay.
What is the tattoo?
-[Ryan] Love and family.
991
00:40:35,367 --> 00:40:36,734
[Josh] Love and family.
992
00:40:36,734 --> 00:40:37,405
Do you have one
for work and responsibility?
993
00:40:37,405 --> 00:40:39,166
Do you have one
for work and responsibility?
994
00:40:39,166 --> 00:40:40,166
I couldn't find that one.
995
00:40:40,166 --> 00:40:42,066
-[laughs] Yeah, no kidding.
-[laughter]
996
00:40:42,066 --> 00:40:43,867
Okay, I'll just--
Should I just-- I'll just
997
00:40:43,867 --> 00:40:45,166
-film the show then, I guess.
-Thank you.
998
00:40:45,166 --> 00:40:46,900
Yeah, I'm docking
your pay for this.
999
00:40:47,367 --> 00:40:48,467
At least you got a tattoo.
1000
00:40:48,467 --> 00:40:50,533
All right, Wassim. I said
I was gonna come back.
1001
00:40:50,533 --> 00:40:51,367
[laughter]
1002
00:40:51,367 --> 00:40:53,000
-Next time.
-[Wassim] Next time.
1003
00:40:53,467 --> 00:40:55,233
[laughter]
1004
00:40:57,266 --> 00:40:58,867
[dramatic music playing]
1005
00:40:58,867 --> 00:41:00,800
We believe that
people came here,
1006
00:41:01,500 --> 00:41:03,634
and marked crosses
1007
00:41:03,634 --> 00:41:06,500
-to commemorate something
or worship.
-[Josh] Right.
1008
00:41:06,500 --> 00:41:10,367
Near a grotto
in the one-time Roman city
of Caesarea Philippi,
1009
00:41:10,367 --> 00:41:15,166
archaeologists are finding
clues that this was a place
of immense importance
1010
00:41:15,166 --> 00:41:17,166
to the early Christian church.
1011
00:41:17,166 --> 00:41:19,500
This is something you see
at pilgrimage sites.
1012
00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:21,367
This is like
the crosses on, uh,
1013
00:41:21,367 --> 00:41:23,467
,uh, Helena's staircase
in the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre.
1014
00:41:23,467 --> 00:41:25,586
-Yeah.
-So the big question is, why?
1015
00:41:25,586 --> 00:41:26,734
-Yeah.
-So the big question is, why?
1016
00:41:26,734 --> 00:41:28,900
Like, why put
a church here at all?
1017
00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:31,734
And why does it
become a pilgrimage site?
1018
00:41:31,734 --> 00:41:35,233
So I think we have a clue
and you can find it
in the gospels.
1019
00:41:37,867 --> 00:41:40,900
[Josh] Adi believes that
the reason people might have
travelled to this place
1020
00:41:40,900 --> 00:41:43,867
is available to us
in black and white.
1021
00:41:43,867 --> 00:41:46,100
The book of Matthew
to be precise.
1022
00:41:46,100 --> 00:41:47,734
Here we go. Reading from
the book of Matthew.
1023
00:41:47,734 --> 00:41:50,634
So, when Jesus came
into the district of
Caesarea Philippi,
1024
00:41:50,634 --> 00:41:52,867
which is right where we are,
1025
00:41:52,867 --> 00:41:55,586
uh, he says to his disciples,
"Who do you say that I am?"
1026
00:41:55,586 --> 00:41:56,433
uh, he says to his disciples,
"Who do you say that I am?"
1027
00:41:56,967 --> 00:41:58,367
"And Simon Peter answered,
1028
00:41:58,367 --> 00:42:01,367
'You are the messiah
and the Son
of the living God.'"
1029
00:42:01,367 --> 00:42:03,367
"And Jesus answered him,
'Blessed are you.'"
1030
00:42:03,367 --> 00:42:06,500
So he's saying, uh,
"I will tell you,
you are Peter,
1031
00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:09,066
and on this rock
I will build my church,
1032
00:42:09,066 --> 00:42:11,166
and the gates of Hades
will not prevail against it.
1033
00:42:11,166 --> 00:42:13,634
I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven,
1034
00:42:13,634 --> 00:42:16,266
and whatever you bind on Earth
will be bound in heaven."
1035
00:42:16,266 --> 00:42:20,166
So this is really the moment
when Jesus is called
the messiah.
1036
00:42:20,166 --> 00:42:22,367
This is the moment when he is,
1037
00:42:22,367 --> 00:42:24,734
kind of handing the church
over to his apostles.
1038
00:42:24,734 --> 00:42:25,586
So is that why this is here,
because it happened somewhere
in Caesarea Philippi.
1039
00:42:25,586 --> 00:42:30,266
So is that why this is here,
because it happened somewhere
in Caesarea Philippi.
1040
00:42:30,266 --> 00:42:31,967
They said,
"Let's build the church here
1041
00:42:31,967 --> 00:42:34,900
and venerate this story,
and make it
a pilgrimage site."
1042
00:42:34,900 --> 00:42:37,467
Yes. But I think
there is even more than that.
1043
00:42:37,467 --> 00:42:40,500
-Okay.
-And in order to expand
this view,
1044
00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:42,634
I would like to take you
into the grotto.
1045
00:42:42,634 --> 00:42:43,867
-Into the grotto?
-[Adi] Yeah.
1046
00:42:43,867 --> 00:42:45,533
Josh, are you claustrophobic?
1047
00:42:47,734 --> 00:42:49,000
No.
1048
00:42:50,533 --> 00:42:53,367
What? What is this?
1049
00:42:53,367 --> 00:42:55,586
-This is a Roman aqueduct.
-[Josh] That goes
to the grotto?
1050
00:42:55,586 --> 00:42:56,266
-This is a Roman aqueduct.
-[Josh] That goes
to the grotto?
1051
00:42:56,266 --> 00:42:57,734
Goes straight to the grotto.
1052
00:42:57,734 --> 00:42:59,000
Oh, boy.
1053
00:42:59,266 --> 00:43:00,166
Okay.
1054
00:43:00,166 --> 00:43:02,367
[adventurous music playing]
1055
00:43:02,867 --> 00:43:04,266
Okay.
1056
00:43:04,266 --> 00:43:08,166
This passage way that Adi
has sent me through
is an ancient aqueduct.
1057
00:43:08,166 --> 00:43:12,533
A long dark water channel
that's been here
since Caesar was in diapers.
1058
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:17,734
These Roman aqueducts
are held up with these flat,
1059
00:43:18,967 --> 00:43:21,634
heavy stones that
are set into an A-frame.
1060
00:43:22,634 --> 00:43:24,533
They've been holding
for a couple 1,000 years.
1061
00:43:24,533 --> 00:43:25,586
But on the other hand,
there's not much
holding them there
1062
00:43:25,586 --> 00:43:27,266
But on the other hand,
there's not much
holding them there
1063
00:43:27,266 --> 00:43:28,634
other than gravity.
1064
00:43:28,634 --> 00:43:32,166
Lord, only knows
what's waiting for me
on the other side.
1065
00:43:33,066 --> 00:43:35,500
And I'm out. Heh.
1066
00:43:35,500 --> 00:43:38,100
-Well, you made it Josh.
-What!
1067
00:43:38,967 --> 00:43:41,367
Wait, why couldn't
I walk around?
1068
00:43:41,367 --> 00:43:45,000
Well, you have to work hard
in order to learn the truth.
1069
00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:47,634
What are you,
a fortune cookie?
All right. Come on.
1070
00:43:47,634 --> 00:43:48,867
I've done the work.
1071
00:43:48,867 --> 00:43:51,634
And it turns out the aqueduct
is an important clue
1072
00:43:51,634 --> 00:43:54,266
to learning why this grotto
is so important.
1073
00:43:54,266 --> 00:43:55,100
[majestic music playing]
1074
00:43:55,100 --> 00:43:55,586
[Josh whispers] Wow.
1075
00:43:55,586 --> 00:43:56,233
[Josh whispers] Wow.
1076
00:43:58,634 --> 00:44:02,166
I mean, you really
don't feel the enormity
of this grotto
1077
00:44:02,166 --> 00:44:03,634
until you're inside of it.
1078
00:44:03,634 --> 00:44:05,467
And to think that
2,000 years ago,
1079
00:44:05,467 --> 00:44:07,266
all of this would have been
under water.
1080
00:44:07,266 --> 00:44:09,066
[Adi] Well, not all of it.
1081
00:44:09,066 --> 00:44:12,500
The top of this rock
was exposed.
1082
00:44:12,500 --> 00:44:15,533
And what would have been
on top of this rock
during Roman times.
1083
00:44:15,533 --> 00:44:18,066
We believe,
there could have been
a statue,
1084
00:44:18,066 --> 00:44:19,967
maybe Pan statue--
1085
00:44:19,967 --> 00:44:22,166
-[Josh] Uh-huh.
-[Adi] ...standing here
on top of the rock.
1086
00:44:22,166 --> 00:44:24,467
[Josh] Like, a little island
in this lake.
1087
00:44:24,467 --> 00:44:25,586
[Adi]
Like a little island, yeah.
1088
00:44:25,586 --> 00:44:25,867
[Adi]
Like a little island, yeah.
1089
00:44:25,867 --> 00:44:27,266
[Josh] Right. Okay.
1090
00:44:27,266 --> 00:44:30,967
Josh, I want you
to think about the aqueduct
that you just crawled through
1091
00:44:30,967 --> 00:44:32,166
for a reason.
1092
00:44:32,166 --> 00:44:35,000
Oh, so it's like,
maintaining the water level
in here.
1093
00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:37,066
It's maintaining
the water level
1094
00:44:37,066 --> 00:44:41,533
in order to keep
this giant rock exposed.
1095
00:44:41,533 --> 00:44:43,734
So this is like
a design feature.
1096
00:44:43,734 --> 00:44:47,100
Now think about
the verse from Matthew
that you just read.
1097
00:44:48,166 --> 00:44:50,266
"And on this rock--"
1098
00:44:50,634 --> 00:44:51,634
[Adi] Yeah.
1099
00:44:51,634 --> 00:44:53,533
[Josh] "...I will
build my church.
1100
00:44:53,533 --> 00:44:55,586
And the gates of Hades...
will not prevail against it."
1101
00:44:55,586 --> 00:44:59,100
And the gates of Hades...
will not prevail against it."
1102
00:44:59,634 --> 00:45:00,900
[Adi] Correct.
1103
00:45:00,900 --> 00:45:03,266
The entrance
to the underworld itself.
The gates of Hades,
1104
00:45:03,266 --> 00:45:06,367
-which is exactly
what this place looks like.
-Exactly.
1105
00:45:06,367 --> 00:45:08,367
[Josh] And so this moment,
1106
00:45:08,367 --> 00:45:14,266
this moment where Jesus
effectively founds the church.
1107
00:45:14,266 --> 00:45:17,066
The... the birth
of Christianity
1108
00:45:17,066 --> 00:45:19,900
-may have happened
on this rock.
-[Adi] On this rock.
1109
00:45:27,634 --> 00:45:30,467
They may have seen this as
"the place where
that happened."
1110
00:45:30,467 --> 00:45:31,867
Yeah.
1111
00:45:31,867 --> 00:45:36,367
That would make this rock...
one of the holiest sites
in Christendom.
1112
00:45:37,166 --> 00:45:38,634
I agree,
1113
00:45:38,634 --> 00:45:43,634
It's not just unbelievable,
it's-- This is, you know.
1114
00:45:45,734 --> 00:45:48,000
-[Adi] Touching.
-Yeah, this is--
1115
00:45:50,467 --> 00:45:52,967
-It's overwhelming
to think about.
-Yeah.
1116
00:45:52,967 --> 00:45:55,367
It would make it
stand alongside--
1117
00:45:56,533 --> 00:45:59,634
The Church of the Nativity,
the Church
of the Holy Sepulchre.
1118
00:45:59,634 --> 00:46:00,800
-[stuttering]
-Yeah.
1119
00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:03,900
It would make this place
what it was.
A pilgrimage site.
1120
00:46:03,900 --> 00:46:05,166
Yeah.
1121
00:46:05,166 --> 00:46:07,967
-You might have a whole lot
visitors here soon.
-[Adi chuckles]
1122
00:46:07,967 --> 00:46:10,000
-Thank you for coming.
-Thank you for sharing it.
1123
00:46:12,100 --> 00:46:16,000
I walk away from the grotto
in a state of elated shock.
1124
00:46:16,000 --> 00:46:20,467
In the Holy Land,
I may have just seen,
the most sacred place of all.
1125
00:46:23,266 --> 00:46:25,367
[triumphant music playing]
1126
00:46:26,867 --> 00:46:30,000
[Josh]
The 19th century scholar,
Ernest Renan wrote,
1127
00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:32,467
"That the Holy Land
should actually be considered
1128
00:46:32,467 --> 00:46:35,166
the fifth gospel
of Jesus Christ."
1129
00:46:35,166 --> 00:46:38,533
Describing this place as,
"Torn, but still legible."
1130
00:46:40,533 --> 00:46:44,166
It has been inspiring
to work alongside
the men and women
1131
00:46:44,166 --> 00:46:48,967
committed to deciphering
the history written here
into the very Earth itself.
1132
00:46:50,634 --> 00:46:52,533
We can't yet say
with certainty,
1133
00:46:52,533 --> 00:46:55,586
which of our two candidates
is the authentic Bethsaida.
1134
00:46:55,586 --> 00:46:56,166
which of our two candidates
is the authentic Bethsaida.
1135
00:46:56,166 --> 00:46:59,533
Though I think
there is terrific case
to be made for El-Araj
1136
00:46:59,533 --> 00:47:01,800
and it's newly
unveiled mosaic.
1137
00:47:05,967 --> 00:47:08,634
But I also leave
with another discovery.
1138
00:47:08,634 --> 00:47:11,000
I realized for the first time,
1139
00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:14,066
what it means to walk
amongst pilgrims.
1140
00:47:14,066 --> 00:47:17,867
I have been able to touch
the tangible fragments
of their faith
1141
00:47:17,867 --> 00:47:20,900
in venerated churches
both past,
1142
00:47:20,900 --> 00:47:23,367
and still vitally present.
1143
00:47:23,367 --> 00:47:25,586
The pilgrims symbols
are etched on the walls
of the Holy Sepulchre
1144
00:47:25,586 --> 00:47:27,100
The pilgrims symbols
are etched on the walls
of the Holy Sepulchre
1145
00:47:27,867 --> 00:47:30,066
and in a remote grotto.
1146
00:47:30,066 --> 00:47:34,467
And even on the very skin
of those who make the journey
to Jerusalem.
1147
00:47:35,734 --> 00:47:38,467
Belief is a powerful companion
1148
00:47:38,467 --> 00:47:42,166
and these ruins vibrate
with the possibility
that here,
1149
00:47:42,166 --> 00:47:44,166
right here, beneath our feet
1150
00:47:44,166 --> 00:47:47,467
is the same ground
where Jesus and his apostles
1151
00:47:47,467 --> 00:47:52,900
created the faith
that still animates
the spirits of billions today.
1152
00:47:52,900 --> 00:47:55,100
Whether you're a true believer
or not,
1153
00:47:55,100 --> 00:47:55,586
it is a history
worth discovering.