At Bet Guvrin National Park there are, in addition to the
ruins of ancient buildings, over 4000 artificial and natural caves.
The artificial caves are nick-named 'Bell Caves' because of
their shape,
like bells. The caves range from 12 to 25 meters high and up to 40
meters across. They were formed when the native chalk was quarried for
building materials. Later the caves were used as
dwellings, cisterns, store rooms, olive presses, burial chambers, for
pigeon breeding, etc.
A large number of these 'bell caves' were dug by a colony of
Sidonians in the 3rd century BC. Sidon was a Phoenician city state. The
Phoenician civilization centered in the north of Canaan. The Phoenician
city-sates were scattered along the
coastlines of modern Lebanon, Syria, Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territories. Phoenicians were maritime traders. Their
culture spread across the Mediterranean between the period of 1200 BC
to 900 BC.
The Sidonian colony at Bet Guvrin was established
by the Ptolemies in the 3rd century BC. The Ptolemies were
the Egyptian dynasty which controlled Palestine from 323 to 198 BC, the
first group to maintain control of the area after the death of
Alexander the Great. They treated their Jewish subjects relatively
well, but taxed them heavily.
Although the caves were robbed of their more valuable
artifacts centuries ago, one can still explore the former burial
chambers, water cisterns, storage rooms, dwellings and shrines in this
extensive cave complex. The caves offer a delightfully cool refuge from
the blazing heat of the region.
The cave ceilings are quite thin and some have already
collapsed. In 2002 when we visited, hard hats were provided and their
wear was mandatory.
Entrances to many of the over 800 Bell Caves are camouflaged
by cacti and fig trees. Beware as you stroll around the area. The
scenery is pleasant, but watch where you put your feet. People have
been known to fall in, and it is a long way down.
The site is worth a visit. Wear sturdy walking shoes. It
might be a good idea to carry a flashlight or electric torch as some of
the caves are rather dark.
Take route 35 toward Lakhish. Six km east of the Lakhish
turn-off and just west of route 38, you will pass the entrance to Bet
Guvrin National Park. Check with the National Park system to find
current hours of operation and entrance fees.
Rambo III, starring Sylvester Stallone, was filmed here.
Some views of Bet Guvrin.
Click with the right mouse button to see the full size photo.
This cistern with vaulted ceiling dates from the 4th or
3rd century BC.
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The columbarium niches in the cistern, for pigeons, were
added later, probably in the Byzantine period.
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Access to the cistern from ground level.
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Wall decorations in a Sidonian burial cave.
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Wall decorations in a Sidonian burial cave.
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Wall decorations in a Sidonian burial cave.
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A press for extracting olive oil.
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Bell caves, so named because of their bell shape.
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Bell caves.
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Bell caves.
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Bell caves.
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Bell cave, a hole in the ground is the way in, watch
where you walk.
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This page was updated on 18 December 2007.
This site was updated using Nvu and Style Master.
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