The Susita National Park with the ruins of the Greek - Hellenistic city Hippos is a national park in Golan, on a ridge above the Sea of Galilee North of Israel.
background
The ruins of the Greek - Hellenistic city Hippos (Greek Ἵππος, "horse") lie on a range of hills on the Golan Heights above the east bank of the Sea of Galilee, above the kibbutz A Gev. The Greek city was part of the Union of Cities Decapolis, in Roman times it was called Hippus, Hebrew - Aramaic she was known as Susita (Hebrew: סוסיתא), this and the Arabic term Qal'at al-Hisn or Husn all refer to the term "horse".
The city went down after a devastating earthquake in 749 AD. and was discovered in 1885 by the German surveyor Gottlieb Schumacher (and initially incorrectly called Gamala located). Under the Israeli archaeologists Emmanuel Anati and Claire Epstein excavations were carried out in 1951/55 and a Byzantine church was uncovered next to the east gate, which was identified as the seat of the bishop of Hippos.
The place was fortified by the Israeli armed forces as a border fortress against Syria and was a restricted military area until the conquest of the Golan Heights of Syria in the Six Day War in 1967; minefields still bear witness to its strategic importance today. In 1964 the area was declared a national park and systematically archaeologically investigated since 1999.
In annual excavation campaigns since 2000 - 2011 by the universities of Haifa, Warsaw and Minnesota (USA), since 2012 under the sole responsibility of Prof. M. Eisenberg from the University of Haifa. In 2015 a life-size bronze mask depicting the god Pan was found.
history
The range of hills three hundred and fifty meters above the level of the Sea of Galilee was since the 3rd century B.C. populated; its history as a fortified settlement is probably known as an outpost of the Seleucids against the Ptolemies in the Diadoch Wars between the successors of Alexander the Great. Seleucid settlers founded the city in the middle of the 2nd century. B.C. as Antioch Hippos. The city developed into a typical Hellenistic polis with a temple, a market square and public buildings. The availability of drinking water, which had to be collected in rain cisterns, set limits to urban development.
A region east of the Jordan was conquered by the Jewish Hasmonean kings under Alexander Jannaeus in 63 BC. conquered the Romans under General Pompey Coele-Syria. Ten cities were owned by Pompey as part of the League of Cities Decapolis Granted autonomy; the city of Hippos resp. Latinized Hippus was henceforth part of the Roman province of Syria. 37 BC received Herod d. Great awarded the city; as a pagan city it always remained with the Jewish city of Rakkat resp Tiberias enemies on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
If the inhabitants of Hippos were initially hostile to the Jewish population of Galilee, this changed when the city took an active role in the Bar Kochba uprising. A heyday of the city began, along the Decumanus maximus in east-west direction, checkerboard-like residential buildings were built, the main street was lined with granite columns imported from Egypt. In the city, an odeion, a theater, a shrine for the emperor and, as one of the most important structures, a 50 km long aqueduct, which led water to a large cistern to supply the city, were built and the city was secured with new walls.
Under Emperor Diocletian, Hippus was incorporated into the province of Palestina Secunda; Christianity came to the city late and the basilica became the seat of a Christian bishop from 359 onwards. The city remained a destination for Christian pilgrims to the region for many years. With the Arab conquest of the Levant in 641, Hippos came under the rule of the Arabs, and under the Umayyad caliphs, Christians were still allowed to practice their religion. Nevertheless, the city began to decline, whose fate was finally sealed with the devastating earthquake in Galilee in 749.
landscape
The city was built on a hill at an altitude of 144 m above sea level. resp. erected three hundred and fifty meters above the level of the Sea of Galilee; the ascent on foot from the kibbutz A Gev is not a problem for experienced hikers.
Flora and fauna
On the way to the archaeological site of Hippos resp. the Susita National Park is accompanied by wild mustard in spring (Feb.-March), the red crown anemones (Anemona coronaria), ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus), single tulips (Tulipa agenensis), cyclamen persicum, Salvia viridis with violet ornamental leaves bloom at the top.
In addition to birds of prey in ledges Gamla nests and cows in the pastures you can see little conspicuous animals, in the evening the calls of the jackals, reminiscent of girls' singing, can be heard.
climate
The Golan has a hot Mediterranean climate, here in the north of Israel the precipitation is more frequent than in the south of the country.
getting there
To A Gev The easiest way to get there is by bus or, if necessary, by boat Tiberias; from the kibbutz A Gev from are the ruins of Hippos resp. the Susita National on the 
marked black and white 1 path reachable in an hour.
The asphalt road to the 2 parking spot below the archaeological site is officially closed to motorized traffic. A well-developed one leads from there 3 path in a few minutes to the archeological site.
Fees / permits
Free access
mobility
The ruins of Hippos can be found along the black and white marked path can be visited, but they are not yet secured and not officially released for inspection and signposted. It is not allowed to climb on the ruins, in the area of the cisterns and basements there is a risk of falling.
Trenches and shelters from the time of the Syrian occupation and the Six Day War can still be seen in the north and south. There are still minefields at the northern entrance, yellow signs warn against entering.
Tourist Attractions
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Tour from the east resp. coming from the parking lot:
- from the east one entered the city through the east gate, the decumanus is paved with black basalt stones.
- Information on the history of Hippos is posted on the building on the left with an overview plan.
- behind on the left are the baptistery and the 1 cathedral with numerous pillars collapsed in the earthquake.
- on the right you can pass a building complex to the 2 basilica reach; to the right (east) is the 3 Northeast Church with rows of columns and the recognizable apse, to the left the 4 Northwest Church.
- Opposite opens the square of the 5 Forums , underneath the collapsing vault of a cistern yawns. In the west rises a wall, which is probably one Calybe is to be assigned to one for the Decapolis typical open-air sanctuary for the worship of local saints or for the (Roman) imperial cult.
- to the west you get to the semicircle 6 OdeionFrom the theater there is a great panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee
- the path then leads in serpentines past a gate building / remains of the city wall down to Ein Gev.
activities
Visiting the archaeological site, climbing around the walls is strictly forbidden.
One that can be done well in the winter months day trip for experienced hikers the hike from A Gev on the black and white marked path up to Hippos / Susita National Park, further on the asphalt road and then on the green, blue and white marked section of the 
Golan Trail, south past Naot Golan and Givat Yoav, past the ruins of and over the prominent top of the 7 Qeren Ein Gev (steep descent secured with iron railings on the south side) back to the kibbutz A Gev.
shop
There are no shopping facilities on site, nor are there any (drinking) water points or toilets.
kitchen
The best way to eat after the visit is in the legendary fish restaurant of A Gevwhere you can enjoy the sunset over Tiberias.
accommodation
Accommodation options arise in the holiday complex of A Gev or in Tiberias, from where the ancient hippos can be easily visited on a half-day excursion.
security
Climbing around on the walls is strictly forbidden, and there is a risk of falling into unsecured cistern openings, etc. At the northern entrance, as in many other places on the Golan Heights, there are minefields, yellow signs warn against entering the fenced area.
If there are indications of natural or man-made damage to the ruins, the Israel Antiquities Authority * 6911, the campaign management of the University of Haifa (972 (0) 4-8249392 or email [email protected]) must be informed.
