Hamaam (Arabic: حمام; Hebrew: חַמָּם), or Wadi Hamam, is an Arab village in northern Israel, located near the Sea of Galilee, at the foot of Mount Nitai and across the Wadi Hamam valley from Mount Arbel. It is the easternmost part of the al-Batuf Regional Council. In 2019 its population was 1,503.[1]

Hamaam חַמָּם, חמאם‎ حمام
Hamaam Show map of Northeast Israel Hamaam Show map of Israel
Coordinates: 32°49′42″N 35°29′32″E
Country	Israel
District	Northern
Council	al-Batuf
Population  (2019)[1]	1,503

History

In 1948, some of the Arab inhabitants of Wadi El Hamam fled to Lebanon.[2] It contains one fairly modern mosque and the trail head for the steep ascent of Mount Arbel.

Archaeology

Khirbet Wadi Hamam is an archaeological site on the outskirts of Hamaam.[3] It was registered as Khirbet el-Wereidat in the PEF's 1870 Survey of Western Palestine,[4] from which the modern Hebrew name-Hurbat Vradim, also spelled Hurvat/Horvat Veradim-was derived.^{[citation needed]} The site was excavated between 2007 and 2012 by a team under dig director Uzi Leibner of Hebrew University and yielded the remains of a large Roman-period Jewish village that was abandoned after a decades-long process of decline around the year 400, at the beginning of the Byzantine period.[3][5] The village was situated at the foot of Mount Nitai and thus on the ancient road connecting the central Galilee, through Wadi Hamam, with the Sea of Galilee.[3]

Ancient synagogue

The most important find is a synagogue with a very interesting and partially preserved mosaic floor.[3]

Nature reserve

The fortifications atop Mount Nitai, which is a nature reserve and off limits for visitors, have also been surveyed and partially excavated with the purpose of dating them and placing them in a historical context.[3]

See also

• Arab localities in Israel
• Al-Khisas, Hula Valley, the original pre-1948 village of the Wadi Hamam inhabitants
• 'Akbara, where inhabitants of Al-Khisas were forcibly evacuated to in 1949 until agreeing to resettlement in Wadi Hamam
• Al-Muftakhira, Hula Valley, mentioned by W. Khalidi as the original pre-1948 village of the inhabitants^{[dubious – discuss]}

References

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