Qumran and Beth Shean pictures

I think I neglected to mention a visit to Qumran, a site in the desert near the Dead Sea. It is the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered on accident by a local shepherd; that discovery led to the excavation of a first century BCE-first century CE settlement that was most likely inhabited by an ascetic and separatist group of Jews known as the Essenes. They're cool, and John the Baptist could have either spent time with them, or at least have known of their teachings. The discovery of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionized study of the Second Temple Period (20BCE-70CE), of New Testament texts, of the development of the Hebrew canon, and of the development of Judaism during that period (and thus its effects of the Judaisms to come).
It's important.
And above is a picture of from the top row of seats in the theatre in Beth Shean/Scythopolis. This site topped almost every site I saw in Turkey and Greece. The preservation of the Roman period buildings here was remarkable, and standing on the top of the tell (the hill in the background left of the photo), you can almost see the grandeur of Rome come to life. The might and genius of the Roman empire hits you upside the head. (Josh Wenta and I had similar feelings and words to describe it).

Oh, and that wooden stage in the foreground of the picture---- I danced on it. It was requested, I obliged. I never pass up an opportunity to be one of the only people to do a jig in a Roman theatre.