Ancient Fishing Methods and Fishing Grounds in the Lake of Galilee

Abstract

Fishing was an important economic activity in the Lake of Galilee during the Roman period. This study proposes a comparative analysis involving archaeological remains, classic literature, ancient art and modern ethnographical accounts regarding fishing in the Kinneret to produce an historical reconstruction of the ancient commercial fishing methods. Furthermore, it aims to individuate the most important fishing areas, the fishing seasons, and to the roll of cities and towns around the Kinneret within the fishing industry.

Keywords:

• Fishing
• Galilee
• Kinneret
• nets
• Bethsaida
• Capernaum

Notes

1 Besides the method in which the net was hauled to the beach, there were also other techniques, in which the net was pulled directly from the boats. This was necessary in places where the fishing grounds were far from the shore, but requires much more effort, and since in the lake the fishing grounds are close to the shore it is unlikely that such method was used.

2 The net sizes varies from one source to another, ranging from 150 to 400 metres. See (Nun 1999, 14; Masterman 1908, 45; Hornell 1935, 73).

3 I.e. the Bass relieves in the Tomb of Ti (Saqqara, V dynasty), the tomb of the ‘two brothers’ (Saqqara, V dynasty), Tomb of Zau (Deil el Gebrâwi, VI dynasty), Tomb of Ahanekht (el-Bersheh, First intermediate period). See Brewer 1989, 42 ff.

4 Until recent times in different areas of the world gigantic nets were produced using only traditional materials and methods that were available since antiquity. In the Venetian lagoon nets up to 680 metres long were used. See Cottica and Divari 2007, 362. The New Zealand Maori produced nets that could reach 1 kilometer, see Paulin 2007, 21. In Sri Lanka, 800 metres long nets were used, with ropes up to 2000 metres long, handled by more than 200 people and in Africa, in lake Chad, fishermen tied several nets together reaching 200 metres in length. See von Brandt 1984, 281–91. Also in China very large nets were used involving several boats and tens of fishermen. See: Kasuga Osaka and Instituto Nacional de Pesca (Mexico) 1975.

5 In Mark the verb ἀμϕιβάλλω is used.

6 Like those of the ‘Maison de la Cascade’ at Utica or those in the Bardo Museum, in Tunis. Cf. (Alfaro Giner 2007, 60).

7 Inventory number 10.455.

8 The same system can also be used closing completely the circle around the shoal, and the placing the boat at the centre, scaring the fish away in all directions.

9 In Arabic the system is called koussaybsharak, terms that refer to the canes used and to the sun, because of the shape of the nets over the water surface that resemble it (Nun 1999, 35).

10 This is the most probable date according to the studies of Avi-Yonah Avi-Yonah 1950. R. Freyne mentions the 13th ce, but it seems a print error since in the notes it refers to Avi-Yonah studies, see Freyne 1980, 129. Sustained also by R. Horsley (Horsley 2006, 225). According to others the date should be around the 23 ce. See Hoehner 1999, 93–95.

11 The name appears for the first time in the rabbinic literature in the Seder Moed, Pesachim 46a, but in other texts it is simply called Migdal or Magdala. Regarding the use of this name see Leibner 2009, 214–35.

12 Mentioned for the first time in a letter from Casius to Cicero (43 bce) it says only that the troops camped there. Cf. Manns 1976.

13 Regarding the excavations see Pierri 2009.