Latin: "Philip's city
of Caesar"
City built by Herod's
son Philip
on a large plateau at the foot of Mount Hermon where the
headwaters of the Jordan river emerge from a grotto. From
ancient times the place was the site of worship of pagan nature
gods, first Ba'al & then Pan. A grotto shrine dedicated to
Pan & the nymph Echo led the site to be called Paneas in
early Roman times [Banias in Arabic]. Herod built a temple dedicated to the Roman
emperor Augustus
there. But the city was a totally new foundation by Philip. The
fresh water pools, fertile environment, thousand foot elevation
& scenic vistas made it one of the most pleasant resorts in
Palestine. As a center for pagan worship, miles north of Galilee
& without Jewish settlements in the region, it is a puzzling
site for the gospels of Mark & Matthew to
locate the story of Peter's confession that Jesus was the
Anointed [Christos, Messiah].
References:
Josephus,
Antiquities
18.28; 20.11.
_____, War
2.168; 3.443, 510; 7.23.
_____, Life 52-59,
74-75.
Mark 8:27-30 // Matt 16:13-20.
Perspective on the World of Jesus 
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