One of the earliest cities in the area is thought to be Beit She’an. Due to its geographic position at the confluence of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley, it has played a significant part in history. Remains dating back to the Chalcolithic are found in the town’s ancient tell. In the Late Bronze Age, it served as the governmental hub of Egypt.
History
To ascertain the earliest occupation of the site, archaeologist G.M. FitzGerald performed a “deep cut” on Tell el-Hisn (“castle hill”), the substantial tell, or mound, of Beth She’an, in 1933 under the supervision of the University of Pennsylvania Museum. According to his findings, settlement probably started in the Late Neolithic or Early Chalcolithic eras (sixth to fifth millennia BCE.) Throughout the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, occupation persisted sporadically, with a possible pause during the Late Chalcolithic period (ca. 4000–3300 BCE).
Things to Know About Beit Shean
Be ready to do walking exercises in Beit Shean. between a short hike to the small hill, but it’s too much easy.
you can find plenty of structures and areas to see and explore, so be sure to take your time while you are there.
From the logic, you will spend a couple of minutes planning the direction you will walk around the great complex site, so you don’t need to retrace your steps to places you’ve missed.
So what else can you expect from Beit Shean?
The best approach to enjoy the site is to use common sense.
Areas to visit in Bet Shean
Excavations have explored :
• Theatre contains a three-tiered for dramatic performances and can accommodate more than 7000 seating people.
• An amphitheater seating 6000 people, where gladiatorial contests entertained soldiers of the Sixth Legion which was based here.
• Very big bath and gym complex along with swimming pools and halls warmed by hot air from furnaces. Its public toilets had channels underneath with running hot water.
• A Roman basilica used as a courthouse and conference administrative center.
• A huge nymphaeum, an elaborate monumental building with a decorative fountain.
• A mosaic of Tyche, the Roman good fortune goddess, wearing the walled city of Scythopolis as a crown and holding the horn of plenty in her hand.
Why Visit this area ?
It’s one of the great places to visit if you like Roman and Byzantine ruins, architecture, and ancient history.
And by ancient, we mean 5000 BCE.
And that’s not a date that you hear about every day.
Sure, it doesn’t have that much popularity with its more famous counterparts such as Masada or Caesarea, but it’s one of the advantages and reasons why to make it to the Northern to see these ancient great ruins.
this site is Located at the crossroad of the Jezreel and Jordan River Valley, and It’s is often lying under the radar of international travelers.
And if something is not as popular as something else, you can expect for sure a less crowded site.
Plus visiting less-traveled places is always a valid reason as it allows you to enjoy a new destination without crowds.
Once you’re in the area, why not give Beit Shean a chance?
Weather and Climate in beit shean
The height of Beit Shean affects its moderate climate, which has pleasant, sunny summers and mild, dry winters (with chilly nights) (during which thunderstorms often break out).
Summers are long, lasting from May to September, with July and August being the hottest months. Temperatures range between 23-36° C (75-96° F) and you can expect 50-90% humidity. The good news is that there is air-conditioning almost everywhere you go, from buses and taxis to malls and hotels. However, it is really important to prepare for these temperatures, especially when spending time outdoors. Buy good sun protection, wear long but cool clothes and make sure to drink plenty of water.
Autumn is, for the most part, a continuation of the summer weather. It does get a little cooler and the humidity drops, so it is more comfortable. The season starts in September and at the end of November it starts getting cooler and we might see a little rain, but not too much. September is usually as warm as summer, but the temperatures in autumn are similar to those of spring and range between 16-24° C (60-75° F).
Depending where you come from you might not even consider the city weather “real winter weather”. This is the wettest time of the year and temperatures range between 6-15° C (42-60° F). Israeli schools have a winter break for Channukah during December, this usually doesn’t affect accommodation but activities tend to get crowded. Also, tourists from nearby countries use their winter breaks to enjoy the warmer temperatures in this city.
Spring is between March and May and this is the ideal time to visit this city. You usually won’t see much rain and the temperatures are mild, ranging between 16-24° C (60-75° F), although the nights might still be chilly. Passover falls in April so if you are planning on visiting during this time keep in mind that prices of flights and accommodation will rise and tend to get booked early.
When is the best time to book my flight ?
There are many different factors that effect each route and so the bad news is – no one rule fits all. But, the good news is that Hopper, a Boston-based start up that analyses flight data and predicts the best time to book a specific flight is doing a great job (they are right 95% of the time), so we suggest checking out their predictions for your flight.
What is the cheapest time to fly ?
the high season is from June to August, so those will obviously be the most expensive months to fly to beit shean. Now, the cheapest month may fluctuate, and the reason for that is that Jewish holidays do not always fall in the same month, for example, one year Passover may fall in March and the next it will be in April.
How Much Time Do You Need for Beit Shean
you need 2 to 3 hours for inside the site , though it’s not uncommon to stay here even longer.
Beit Shean is a relatively large complex with many interesting structures to see, so it’s not worth rushing it.
If you don’t have a guide, make sure to read as many informative signs as possible to get the most of this place.