Hamat Gader
Hamat Gader was already widely known as a recreation site in Roman times. Construction of the bath complex began in the 2nd century by the 10th Roman Legion, which was garrisoned in the city of Gadara. Two distinct construction periods are evident at the site: The Roman-Byzantine Period, during which most of the bath complex was built, and the Moslem Period, during which major changes were made to the existing structures.[1] The hot water springs were used for recreation and healing purposes. Some of the buildings were damaged by an earthquake in the 7th century and restored by the Umayyad caliph who ruled from Damascus. Eventually, in the 9th century, the baths were abandoned and a thick layer of silt covered the ruins. The site includes a Roman theatre, which was built in the 3rd century CE and contained 2,000 seats. A large synagogue was built in the 5th century CE. [edit] Modern history The border between the British Mandate of Palestine and the French Mandate of Syria was drawn in 1923, and Hamat Gader was included in the former.[2] After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the site remained legally in Israel,[citation needed] but was occupied by Syrian forces. Israelis were prevented from entering the area by shelling and fire from Syrian military positions on the Golan Heights overlooking the site. On April 4, 1951, a force of Israeli soldiers and Border Police set out for Hamat Gader in order to enforce Israeli sovereignty over the site. Syrian soldiers guarding the entrance to Hamat Gader ordered them to turn back immediately, but the Israeli force refused. Once the Israeli force had passed, the Syrians opened fire from the rear. Of the 22 soldiers and policemen in the force, seven were killed, three were wounded and one was taken prisoner.[3],[4] The skirmish became known as the "El-Hamma Incident" (Hebrew: תקרית אל-חמה). Israeli control over Hamat Gader was secured during the Six-Day War in 1967, when the Israeli army captured the surrounding Golan Height
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