Home > Sites > West Galilee >Tell Afek (Afik, Aphek, Kurdaneh)

 

Contents: Background Location History Aerial Map Photos Biblical Links Etymology

Background:

 

The site is located on the ancient road of Via Maris, the major highway that connect Egypt to Syria and the north.   On the south side of the site is a Tell, the site of a Biblical site (Afek, Afik). On the north side is the Roman village, and a two-story fortified building from the Crusader period. A flour mill once operated on the lower floor of the building.

 

Location:

 

   The site is located in the plains south to Acre, and is 43M above sea level. The ancient Via Maris road from Acre passed at this point, and split south (through Khirbet) and east (towards Sepphoris and Nazareth). In Arabic the tell is called Kurdaneh.

 

  The site is a park, and can be reached from Kiryat Bialik with an entrance on the south-west side. The highlights of the park include the Crusader fortress and the natural water canals and lake, which draw their waters from the year-long flowing springs of Afek, which are the sources of the Naaman river.

 

  Note that in Israel there are other Biblical sites with the same name: in the Sharon (Rosh Haayin) , in Jezreel valley (Gilboa area), and in the Golan (on the Syrian border, east to the sea of Galilee).

 

History of the place:

 

   The massive walls were built in the bronze period.  According to the Bible it was strongly defended and did not submit to the tribe of Asher.

 

   In the Hellenistic period the city expanded to the north, and was expanded into a large area that reached the springs.

 

   In the Crusaders times the north area was fortified to protect the route to Nazareth. The Crusaders camped here and used it as a base to combat the Muslims. A 2 story Crusader fortress still stands here. A flour mill operated in the lower floor, operated by the water.

 

  Today, the site is a nature park (Ein Afek), with an observatory of the wild life in the lakes and the swamps.

 

  A Kibbutz with the same name, Afek, was established in 1939 in the area north-east to the site.

 

Aerial View/Map:

 

This is the aerial view of the area from the west side.

 

Pointing on  purple points will automatically scroll  to the relevant photo, text or web page.

 

Photos:

 

This is the view of the Tell from the south-east side. On top of the Tell are modern metal sculptures of sheep.

 

Click on the photo to view it in higher resolution...

 

A look from the south-east side towards the lower city, where the post-biblical village was located. The springs are in the area behind the hill.

 

 

 

Biblical References:

 

(a) Joshua 19:24-30

 

This text, describing the land of the tribe of Asher, lists the cities in their area, including Afek (Aphek):

 

24 "And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.

 25 And their border was Helkath, and Khali, and Beten, and Achshaph

26  And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;

27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,

 28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;

 29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:

 30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.

 

(b) Judges 1: 31

 

This text lists those cities that did not yield to the Israelite conquest. In this text the city is called Afik (Aphik), which means the source of water (the Naaman river).

 

" Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob".
 

Links:

 

• Ein Afek - the nature and archaeological park

 

 

Etymology (behind the name):

Tell - a layered mound (read about the story of the Tells, including our animation)   Afek (Aphek) - also Afik (Aphik) as in Judges. Afik  in Hebrew means the source of water (of the Naaman river). There were other cities with this name - such as Aphek in the Sharon.   Na'aman, Naaman - the name of the creek which starts at the rich springs north-east to the Tell. The source of the name is from Arabic (Naamin), an unknown source. May have been based on Naam (yes).   Kurdani, Kurdaneh- the Arabic name of the Naaman springs near the Tell.   Ricordane, Recordane - the Crusader name, based on Kurdani.

 

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