I really like StarGate series. It is a marvelous mélange of mythology, Sci-Fi, Urban Legend, quite cool ideas, intelligent action (despite the second hand actors) and the visual effects are not bad. I am quite pretentious with the movies or series in general. But this one… I really like it (I think I said that before).
Over ten years ago, I saw the original movie. Piece of Art. I knew about the series, but I paid no attention, I didn’t trust the continuation, as series, I didn’t want to spoil the feeling of the original movie. But last year I started watching the StarGate Atlantis series, I saw 60 hours of movie, corresponding to 3 years of airing, in about two(!!!) weeks, then two months after I was curious about its precedent, StarGate SG-1, I saw the last seasons, about 80 hours of movie in less than three weeks.
Well, after chatting one morning with one of my office colleagues, I was curious one month ago about the series that started ten years ago, so I downloaded the first six seasons.
What a damn bloody surprise! I couldn't expect such a Good Shit. Too Good Shit. And very, very addictive. Not even BreakFast Club in the 5 days long week-end that just passed last week. After nearly 100 hours watched during one month, I said myself to take it easy this week-end. So I went out from the City. I was in a place called Bet She'an, in Eastern Israel, I was curious about it from some time.
Over ten years ago, I saw the original movie. Piece of Art. I knew about the series, but I paid no attention, I didn’t trust the continuation, as series, I didn’t want to spoil the feeling of the original movie. But last year I started watching the StarGate Atlantis series, I saw 60 hours of movie, corresponding to 3 years of airing, in about two(!!!) weeks, then two months after I was curious about its precedent, StarGate SG-1, I saw the last seasons, about 80 hours of movie in less than three weeks.
Well, after chatting one morning with one of my office colleagues, I was curious one month ago about the series that started ten years ago, so I downloaded the first six seasons.
What a damn bloody surprise! I couldn't expect such a Good Shit. Too Good Shit. And very, very addictive. Not even BreakFast Club in the 5 days long week-end that just passed last week. After nearly 100 hours watched during one month, I said myself to take it easy this week-end. So I went out from the City. I was in a place called Bet She'an, in Eastern Israel, I was curious about it from some time.
The history of Bet She'an begins in the fifth millennium B.C.E., with the first settlers who arrived on the banks of Nahal Harod. Over time, many rulers and inhabitants built and rebuild settlements on the site, and the hill grew into a tell. Ancient Bet-She'an is mentioned in the book of Samuel as a city on whose walls the corpses of King Saul and his sons were displayed. The city was destroyed by the Assyrian army in 732 B.C.E. and left in ruins for centuries.
In the Hellenistic period Bet She'an extended beyond Nahal Harod. The City was named Nyssa Scythopolis, Nyssa after the nurse of god Dionysos.
In the Roman period it was the most important of Ten Cities, the Decalopolis, and the only one on the West Bank of the Jordan River. Roman customs and fashion prevailed in the flourishing City, which continued to grow as Christianity spread among its population.
In the seventh century C.E., Bet She'an was ruled by the Muslim Umayyads. During their decline, in 749, an earthquake shook the city and destroyed it to its very foundations. On its ruins the modest Arab settlement of Beisan arose. In the Middle Ages and the Ottoman period the town center moved to the site where modern Bet She'an stands today. Excavations in Bet She'an which have uncovered about one tenth of the City's area have opened a door to its vibrant past...
In the Hellenistic period Bet She'an extended beyond Nahal Harod. The City was named Nyssa Scythopolis, Nyssa after the nurse of god Dionysos.
In the Roman period it was the most important of Ten Cities, the Decalopolis, and the only one on the West Bank of the Jordan River. Roman customs and fashion prevailed in the flourishing City, which continued to grow as Christianity spread among its population.
In the seventh century C.E., Bet She'an was ruled by the Muslim Umayyads. During their decline, in 749, an earthquake shook the city and destroyed it to its very foundations. On its ruins the modest Arab settlement of Beisan arose. In the Middle Ages and the Ottoman period the town center moved to the site where modern Bet She'an stands today. Excavations in Bet She'an which have uncovered about one tenth of the City's area have opened a door to its vibrant past...
The theatre of Bet She'an had about 7000 seats divided in three seating areas; its walls shielded the audience from the distractions of the city streets. Statues of Hermes and Tyche, the goddess fortune and the city's patron goddess may have stood at the site. The wall of the stage was used as a decor and adorned with statues and ornate architectural elements.
"Orchestra" is the area between the rows of seats and the stage, seats on the periphery had back-supports – a luxury enjoyed only by the most prominent citizens of the City. The passageway into the theatre was called “vomitorium”.
“Scaena” (stage) had also a mechane (crane) which was used to lower actors playing a god or gods onto the stage, so from this "Deus Ex Machina" phrase is coming from. Though the Latin phrase from the conventions of Greek tragedy is accurately translated as "God from a Machine", in literary criticism, it is often translated to "God on a Machine".
“Scaena” (stage) had also a mechane (crane) which was used to lower actors playing a god or gods onto the stage, so from this "Deus Ex Machina" phrase is coming from. Though the Latin phrase from the conventions of Greek tragedy is accurately translated as "God from a Machine", in literary criticism, it is often translated to "God on a Machine".
Palladius Street...
Silvanus Street...
At the intersection of these two streets, Nymphaeum can be seen, a public fountain; water spilled into a pool situated in front of the structure, on the side facing the street.
Here is a part of the ancient nucleus of Roman Bet-She’an (1st century C.E.); these Temples may have been an integral element of the Roman Agora. The water systems found at the site attest to the use of water in the ritual.
Basalt reliefs of this type decorated the walls of Canaanite temples in the 14th century B.C.E., like this one:
In the 12th Century B.C.E. Egyptian rule reached its peak in the country. Bet-She'an became a key administrative center in the north. This house served as the headquarters of the Egyptian governor.
This was the home of the Egyptian governor Ramses-Weser-Kepesh in the 12th century B.C.E. The lintel of this door, which was discovered nearby, bears the image of the governor kneeling before the name and attributes of the Egyptian king Pharaoh Ramses III. The inscription attests to its high rank; in free Goa'uld translation, it is written: "The King's Scribe. Appointed Chief of the House.”
Servant of the powerful Lord of the System Ra, Ramses III, King of Egypt, who ruled in the land of Israel, was erected in Bet-She'an marking the victory over the "sea people", who invaded the area in 12th century B.C.E. and threaded the Egyptian kingdom. The statue was made locally, in the Egyptian monumental style.
Another Goa'uld writings:
This story is about the Rulers of the cities Hamat and Pehel, descended upon Bet-She'an, the Egyptian administrative town, in an attempt to seize power, they failed, and in the first year of the reign of Seti I, King of Egypt, these regiments crushed the rebellion.
After a good meal, on our way home we stopped in a place on the Jordan River were Jesus Christ is said that was baptised by John the Baptist.
This site is considered to be a holy place for the Christians and other derivate movements and sects. Still lots of people from the whole world are coming here to be baptised.
Anyways the place itself is a shit hole, in the smelliest way of the word, all around was floating a very intense stinky odor.
In the same area is also the shore of the Sea of Galilee, more a lake than a Sea. This place is 209 meters below sea level, the main feature of the lake seems to be its ever-changing character. It is still noted, as in New Testament times, for its rich fish stocks; much of the ministry of Jesus occurred on the shores of Sea of Galilee. I refreshed my legs into it, but for some reason, I couldn’t walk on it :P
Now, back to StarGate… About 20 hours left to see… :P
