Magdala – Hometown of Mary Magdalene

The Latin name is Taricheae – known as an ancient city in the Galilee, located in the North-Western part of the Sea of Galilee.

The main source of income for the people of Magdala was from fishing and preserving fish. There is evidence dating back as far as the 1st century BCE.

The people of Magdala participated in the Big Revolt against the Romans and in 67 AD the Roman army led by Aspasianus put siege on the city. The people then tried to escape in boats via the Sea of Galilee, and according to Josephus Flavius the battle on the Sea of Galilee was a vicious massacre so much so that the water turned red from the blood.

The 1st archaeological excavation began in 1971 and excavations are ongoing till today.

The most significant discoveries that have been uncovered up till now are: a Synagogue from the time of the 2nd Holy Temple period; the industrial area where they dried, salted and preserved the fish; and the neighborhood of the wealthy people with a number of ritual purification pools.

In the Bible, Magdala is first mentioned in the Gospel of Mark 5 25-29 recounting the story of the woman that bled for 12 years until she touched Jesus’ clothes which stopped her bleeding. She understood that she was healed. It is also mentioned in Luke 8 2 where Jesus cast out 7 demons from Mary of Magdala. She is also the woman who was in Golgotha with Jesus during his crucifixion and later on during his resurrection.

Today, there is a beautiful new Church that was built there just recently, and I will post more details about it in one of my next posts.

Read more on Mary Magdalene and Magdala.

Thank you Paranormal TV and Pastor Larry Huch & Father Kelly.