Magdala, Mary Magdalene’s Home Town

Magdala, Migdal in Hebrew and Taricheae in Greek, lies on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee just north of Tiberias. It is possibly the same town called Dalmanutha in Mark chapter 8. During the time of Christ, Magdala was the center for drying, salting, and exporting to the Roman empire fish caught in the Sea of Galilee. Therefore, it was the home of some rich merchants. It was not just the home town of Mary Magdalene (see Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9). Jesus visited the town at least twice.

Above is the synagogue of Magdala. In the center is a carved rock platform, called a bimah, where scripture readings took place. The synagogue also had four pillars (one is missing) and two inner rows of stone benches (“the uppermost seats” that the Pharisees and Scribes loved, see Luke 11:43-44). Standing room was behind the benches. All of the floor was originally tiled with mosaics, but only one section has survived.

In or near Magdala the following took place, “…he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan (Magdala). And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather; for the sky is red.” And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.” Matthew 15:39-16:4 RSV.

Above is a close-up of the platform (i.e. bimah) on which the scripture scroll was placed for oral readings. The bimah shows the temple menorah between two amphora jars.

Above is a pond used by first century fisherman to hold their catch alive until they could be prepared for export. This pond is now in the Magdala hotel lobby.

Above are the ruins of a wealthy house and below it is a drawing reconstructing what the house probably looked like.

Was Mary Magdalene a wealthy woman? “…he (Jesus) went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s (Herod Agrippa) steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.” Luke 8:1-3. From this passage we learn that Mary had 7 evil spirits cast out of her. It is also possible that she was included in the list of women of means. If so, might she have lived in a home like the one pictured above?

At this point I want to put to rest the slander that Mary Magdalene was the woman caught in adultery mentioned in John 8:3. The Apostle John knew Mary Magdalene extremely well. They had traveled together with the other disciples for years. If this woman was the one caught in adultery, surely John would have named her! So where did this slander originate? Pope Gregory I in 591 AD (approximately 563 years after the event) announced that Mary Magdalene was the woman caught in adultery in John 8, the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7, and was the sister of Martha and Lazarus (who lived in Bethany on the Mount of Olives and nowhere near Magdala). In the Middle Ages women were often treated as property and inferior. This was another example of baseless prejudice with no bearing on facts. The fact was that Mary Magdalene was such a righteous person that she was privileged to be the first person to see the resurrected Christ.