Caesareas

Caesareas are toponyms used for several cities in the Roman and late antique world, named in honor of Julius Caesar and his successors. The name derives from the Latin Caesar and was commonly applied to imperial or colonial settlements across the empire, especially along coastlines or strategic routes.

Notable Caesareas include Caesarea Maritima, on the Mediterranean coast of what is now Israel. Built by Herod the Great around 22–10 BCE and named for Caesar Augustus, it developed into a major port and administrative center, with features such as a harbor, aqueduct, theater, and later Crusader fortifications. Caesarea Philippi, near Banias in the Golan Heights, was Paneas before being renamed by Herod Philip II in the 1st century BCE in honor of Caesar Augustus; it was known for the cult of Pan and later for its biblical associations. Caesarea Mazaca, the ancient name of Kayseri in central Anatolia, served as a Cappadocian provincial capital under Roman rule and remained a regional center into late antiquity. Caesarea Augusta, near modern Cherchell in Algeria, was a key city of Mauretania Caesariensis and served as its provincial capital in late antiquity. In addition to these, several other towns across the empire bore the name Caesarea, reflecting the imperial branding of urban settlements.

Today’s ruins and archaeological remains of these sites testify to a blending of Greek, Roman, and local influences and to their roles as hubs of administration, trade, and religion in the Roman world.