Beit She'arim Necropolis

Beit She'arim is located in the Lower Galilee region of northern Israel, near the modern town of Kiryat Tivon. The necropolis consists of dozens of catacomb halls carved into the hillside, forming one of the most extensive ancient Jewish burial complexes in the world.

Beit She'arim was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, recognized as a landmark in Jewish history for its role as a major burial and learning center after the destruction of the Second Temple. The site is especially valued for its hundreds of inscriptions in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Palmyrene that document the Jewish diaspora of the Roman period.

Rabbi Judah HaNasi, the compiler of the Mishnah who died around 220 CE, was buried at Beit She'arim, which helped establish the site as a prestigious burial ground. Jews from across the Mediterranean and Near East transported their dead to be interred near him throughout the 3rd and 4th centuries.

Visitors can explore multiple excavated catacomb halls featuring carved stone sarcophagi, menorah reliefs, and inscriptions in several ancient languages. The site also includes the remains of a basilica and other public buildings from the ancient settlement that surrounded the necropolis.