Hamat Gader (Arabic El-Hamma) lies in the lower Yarmouk valley near the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. In ancient times it was much frequented - as it still is - for the sake of its medicinal springs of sulfurous water. It belonged to Gadara, a town on the east bank of the Yarmouk (now Jordanian territory), which in Hellenistic times became a center of Greek culture in the territories to the east of the Jordan. The modern town of Hamat Gader has preserved impressive remains of Roman baths, a synagogue and a Roman theater; but many visitors come to the town not for its archeological interest but for the pleasure of relaxing in its mineral swimming baths, with a choice between hot and cold pools.
Hamat Gader is reached from Tiberias by taking a road which runs south, crosses the Jordan and passes through Ma'agan and the turning into a side road signposted to Sha'ar HaGolan. The distance from Tiberias is 20km/12.5mi.
History
Gadara was the home of the Greek satirical writer Menippus and the poet Meleager. In Roman times it was a member of the Decapolis, a league of ten cities including Scythopolis (Bet Shean) on the west bank of the Jordan and nine towns on the east bank, among them Damascus, Philadelphia (Amman), Pella and Gerasa (Jerash). For a time Gadara was the leading member of the league, which continued in existence into the second century A.D. and is mentioned in the New Testament (Matthew 4,25; Mark 5,20 and 7,31).
In a beautifully laid out park with picnic areas, a restaurant, a children's playground and archeological remains the principal attractions are the bathing pools, with water at different temperatures. The covered pool has water at a temperature of 42°C/108°F from a slightly radioactive mineral spring which is recommended particularly for relieving rheumatic complaints.
At the south end of the park in Hamat Gader is the Alligator Farm. The first alligators were flown in from Florida in 1981, and since then have flourished and multiplied.
Near the bathing pools in Hamat Gader, on the highest point in the park, are the excavated remains of a synagogue of the fifth century, divided into three aisles by two rows of four columns. Remains of mosaics with simple geometric designs and representations of plants and animals were found here.
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Roman baths
