CESAREA, two towns in Palestine. (1.) CÆSAREA PALESTINA, or CÆSAREA, the Roman metropolis of Palestine, lies 35 miles north of Joppa and 55 miles from Jerusalem. It was built about B.C. 22 by Herod, who also adorned it with many splendid buildings, among which was a temple dedicated to Cæsar, a theatre, and an amphitheatre. His most stupendous work, however, was the semicircular mole, constructed of immense blocks of stone brought from a great distance, and sunk to the depth of twenty fathoms in the sea. It protected the port on the south and west, leaving only a sufficient opening for vessels to enter from the north, so that within the inclosed space a fleet might ride at all weathers in perfect security. Its site is now marked by an extensive mass of ruins, among which may be seen those of an old castle, two aqueducts, &c. Its only inhabitants now are snakes, scorpions, lizards, wild boars, and jackals. (2.) CÆSAREA PHILIPPI lay 120 miles north of Jerusalem, and a day and a half's journey from Damascus. It was much enlarged and beautified by Philip the Tetrarch, who named it Cæsarea in honour of Tiberius the emperor, adding the cognomen of Philippi to distinguish it from the preceding. Its site is occupied by the modern Bânîas, a paltry and insignificant village, with numerous ruins in the vicinity. There were several other places of this name.