Consequently the Mediterranean Sea is not significant for either travel or the economy. Herod created an artificial harbor at Caesarea Maritima, which remained the capital of the Roman province of Judea for 600 years. Just east of the coastal plain are the central hills. This section is divided into Galilee, Samaria and Judah. Most of the events of the Gospels took place in the central hill country.
Rugged mountains dominate the north end of Galilee.
The headwaters of the Jordan River are in these mountains. The river carries fresh water to the Sea of Galilee. In the first century one could navigate from the sea up the Jordan River about a mile to the village of Bethsaida. From there it was an arduous day's journey on foot to the base of the southern slope of Mount Hermon to a place called Panias. Panias passed to his son, Philip, who made it the capital of his territory and named it Caesarea Philippi.