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Gamla
EntityQ1493165· pop 20· linked from 180 articles

Gamla (), also Gamala, was an ancient Jewish town on the Golan Heights. Believed to have been founded as a Seleucid fort during the Syrian Wars, it transitioned into a predominantly Jewish settlement that came under Hasmonean rule in 81 BCE. The town's name reflects its location on a high, elongated ridge with steep slopes resembling a camel's hump.

Key facts

Ancient site.abandoned
67 CE
Ancient site.name
Gamla
Ancient site.alternate_name
Al-Sunâm ("Camel's Hump")
Ancient site.caption
The acropolis of Gamla
Ancient site.map_type
Syria Golan
Ancient site.map_size
250
Ancient site.relief
1
Ancient site.location
Golan Heights
Ancient site.type
Ancient fortification and town
Ancient site.material
Basalt
Ancient site.built
3rd century BCE
Ancient site.epochs
Hellenistic to Roman Empire
Ancient site.excavations
1978–2000
Ancient site.archaeologists
Shmarya Guttman, Itzhaki Gal, Zvi Yavor, Danny Syon
Ancient site.management
INPA
Ancient site.public_access
yes
Ancient site.website
en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/gamla-nature-reserve

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Golan Heights - Gamla view.jpg
Show 4 more facts
Commons gallery
Gamla
Commons category
Gamla
native label
גמלא
point in time
0067-01-01
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~18 min read

Article

17 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • History
  • Early history
  • Hellenistic and Hasmonean periods
  • Roman period
  • Great Jewish revolt
  • Identification
  • Archaeology
  • Weapons
  • Coins
  • Synagogue
  • Present-day Gamla
  • Gallery
  • Notes
  • References
  • Bibliography
  • External links

Gamla (), also Gamala, was an ancient Jewish town on the Golan Heights. Believed to have been founded as a Seleucid fort during the Syrian Wars, it transitioned into a predominantly Jewish settlement that came under Hasmonean rule in 81 BCE. The town's name reflects its location on a high, elongated ridge with steep slopes resembling a camel's hump.

Gamla served as a key rebel stronghold during the Great Jewish Revolt against Rome. In the summer of 67 CE, after an extended siege and battle, Roman forces under Vespasian ultimately captured the town and massacred its inhabitants. The Jewish historian Josephus, who accompanied the Roman army, provides detailed accounts of these events in his work, The Jewish War.

Gallery (16)

On the map

3 mapped locations

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