Magdala, located on the western shore of Lake Gennesaret, is known as the ancient hometown of Mary Magdalene. Recent archaeological excavations have unearthed a first-century synagogue, one of the few dating from the time of Jesus, with a valuable mosaic and stone relief depicting the Temple of Jerusalem. The site also shows remnants of dwellings, roads, and fish-processing facilities, testifying to the economic importance of the city, which was mainly related to fishing and salting fish. Magdala was destroyed during the First Jewish War (66-70 AD) and was never rebuilt.
Christian tradition credits Magdala with a significant role for Mary Magdalene's presence in the Gospel accounts: according to the Gospels, she witnessed Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Mary Magdalene is remembered as the first person to whom the resurrected Jesus appeared, thus becoming the "apostle of the apostles." The memory of Magdala is thus closely linked to the figure of this woman, a symbol of conversion and faithfulness.
Here are some of the main biblical texts that mention Mary Magdalene:
Luke 8:2-3: Mary Magdalene is mentioned among the women who followed Jesus and assisted him with their possessions; seven demons had come out of her.
Mark 15:40-41: She is present under the cross with other women, witnessing Jesus' death.
Matthew 27:55-56; 27:61: Mary Magdalene witnesses the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.
Mark 16:1-8; Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:1-10; John 20:1-18: She is among the first witnesses to the empty tomb and the announcement of the resurrection; according to John's Gospel, she is the first to see the risen Jesus and to receive from him the mandate to announce his resurrection to the apostles.
Magdala, now called Migdal, is located on the western shore of Lake Gennesaret, about 6 km north of Tiberias. It was a thriving city even in Hellenistic and Roman times, known for processing and salting fish, so much so that it was called "Tarichea" (from the Greek tarichos, "salted fish") in ancient sources.
Archaeological excavations, which began in 2009, uncovered a first-century AD synagogue, one of the oldest in Galilee, with a valuable floor mosaic and a stone relief symbolically representing the Temple in Jerusalem. Remains of warehouses, fish processing tanks, paved roads, dwellings, and a harbor were also found. These finds testify to the commercial importance of the city and its economic vibrancy.
Magdala was destroyed during the First Jewish War (66-70 AD) and was never rebuilt.
