This was a restored Talmudic era village modeled on ruins of a fourth - eighth century village at Qatzrin in the Golan. Similar basalt construction was found in the ruins of Capernaum during the time of Jesus.

The unhewn logs were used as rafters with branches and saplings as cross support. The top was overlain with tightly packed clay. Terracotta roof tiles were not known in rural Galilean villages during the first century AD, but where known in the region during Byzantine times.

From Capernaum National Park I was able to look to the east and see the saddle shaped ridge that Gamala was built upon. At Gamala destroyed by the year 70 by the Romans, plaster was used on the roofs of the finer homes instead of clay.

Luke reported the man was lowered through the tiled roof. It has been suggested the Greek for clay tile might have also meant packed clay. Many roofs of the Galilean villages were overlain with packed clay. As late as the early 20th century some of the roofs in Tiberias were of packed clay. Reports of clay leaking during heavy rains were commonplace. Sometimes grass sprouted from peoples rooftops. Luke or a later copyist might have been from a village with clay tile roofs and recorded the roof as clay tile out of a bias of thinking roofs were made of tile.

Luke 5:19 And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

Flat topped roof of timber and branches overlain by packed clay with clay pigeon house on edge of wall.

Mark 2 (ASV)

"1 And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he spake the word unto them.
3 And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy (payalysis) lay.
5 And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy (paralysis), Son, thy sins are forgiven.
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?
8 And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy (paralysis), Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy (paralysis)),
11 I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.
12 And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."

2003

A view from the white synagogue at Capernaum towards the lake. These were ruins from the first few centuries AD.

ISRAEL PHOTOS III -- A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS FROM ISRAEL

WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SCENES AND SITES PERTINENT TO THE STUDY OF CHRISTIANITY

Mark 2 (ASV)