Banias Pools and Cave

View looking north.  In the foreground are pools that are fed by the spring of Banias—located near the tree on the right edge of the image.

Just right of center note the dark rock cave that is carved into the limestone cliff.

For a view of this cave Click Here .

Zondervan Atlas of the Bible p. 35.

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Caesarea Philippi is situated about 50 mi. [80 km.] southwest of Damascus at the foot of 9,232 ft. [2813 m.] high Mt. Hermon at one of the five the headwaters of the Jordan River in the northern Huleh Valley.  It was originally called Paneas for it was here that the god Pan , among others, was worshipped.  Today it is called “Banias."

At the death of Herod the Great, in 4 B.C., this city along with various territories in the area were given to his son Philip.  In 2 B.C. Philip rebuilt the city and called it “Caesarea Philippi”—to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima .

It was here at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus retired from the crowds, and it was here that Peter made his “great confession” that they believed that Jesus was the “Messiah, the son of God”  (Matt 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30).