Caesarea Philippi in Smiths Bible Dictionary
is mentioned only in the first two Gospels, Mt 16:13; Mr 8:27
and in accounts of the same transactions. It was at the
easternmost and most important of the two recognized sources
of the Jordan, the other being at Tel-el-Kadi. The spring
rises from and the city was built on a limestone terrace in a
valley at the base of Mount Hermon 20 miles north of the Sea
of Galilee. It was enlarged by Herod Philip, and named after
Caesar, with his own name added to distinguish it from
Caesarea. Its present name is Banias, a village of some 50
houses, with many interesting ruins. Caesarea Philippi has no
Old Testament history, though it has been not unreasonably
identified with Baal-gad. It was visited by Christ shortly
before his transfiguration, Mt 16:13-28 and was the northern
limit of his journeys. Mr 8:27
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