Bible Geography · Coastal Trade Route, Canaan to Egypt · c. 2000 BC – AD 600
Via Maris
Description
The Via Maris ('Way of the Sea') was the main north-south route through Canaan, following the Mediterranean coast through the Jezreel Valley and up through Damascus. It was the primary artery for armies, merchants, and travelers moving between Egypt and Mesopotamia, passing through cities like Gaza, Megiddo, Hazor, and Damascus.
Significance
The Via Maris was strategically vital throughout history — Egypt's pharaohs, Assyrian kings, and Roman legions all marched along it. Isaiah's prophecy that the 'people walking in darkness' in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali (the Galilee region along the Via Maris) would see a great light was fulfilled when Jesus made Capernaum his base of operations.
Key Events
Abraham likely traveled the Via Maris on his journey from Ur toward Canaan; Egyptian armies used the route to campaign in Canaan; Tiglath-Pileser's Assyrian army invaded along this route; Jesus settled in Capernaum on the Via Maris and made it the center of his Galilean ministry.
Modern Context
The general course of the ancient Via Maris is followed today by Israel's Highway 4 along the coastal plain. Megiddo, one of the key cities controlling access to the Via Maris through the Jezreel Valley, is now an Israeli national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 26 layers of ancient occupation.