Beit She’an is one of the most ancient cities in the country. A tour of Beit She’an is like a walk through time. A historical gem of ancient buildings that were once public institutions, archaeological sites and impressive ruins which unfolds the fascinating story of a rich period full of changes, reaching it’s climax in the National Park of Beit She’an to the north of the city.
Tel Beit She’an was first settled in the Chalcolithic Period (some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago). The city has had many conquerors, among them the Egyptians about 3,500 years ago. A few hundred years later, the Philistines conquered it (we recall the fascinating story of Saul who’s body was fastened to the wall of Beit She’an after the famous battle on Mount Gilboa – 1 Samuel 31 .8 – 11). Beit She’an became part of the kingdoms of David and Solomon, and was eventually destroyed in a fire, apparently at the hands of the King of Assyria (in 732 BCE).
Beit She’an was rebuilt as a Hellenistic city about 2,300 years ago, and was renamed Scythopolis (“City of the Scyths”). The remains of the wall that surrounded the city of some 370 acres, can still be seen today.
