The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Galilee

GALILEE, the northernmost of the three western main divisions of Palestine in the time of the Romans, subdivided into Upper and Lower Galilee. Upper Galilee was bounded N. and W. by Mt. Lebanon, Cœle-Syria, and Phœnicia, E. by the Jordan, and S. by Lower Galilee. This division was called Galilee of the nations, or of the gentiles, because of the mixed nature of its population. It embraced the ancient territory of Naphtali, and the northern part of Asher. Lower Galilee was bounded N. by Upper Galilee, W. by Phœnicia and the Mediterranean, E. by the lake of Tiberias or Gennesaret, and S. by Samaria. This division contained the ancient territory of Zebulon and parts of Issachar and Asher. The inhabitants of Galilee spoke a rude, corrupt dialect, different from that of the Jews in Samaria and Judea, and were noted for their turbulent and rebellious spirit. It contained most of the places noted in the history of Christ, such as Nazareth, Cana, and Capernaum. The apostles were all Galileans by birth or residence. The chief city of Upper Galilee was Cæsarea Philippi; of Lower Galilee, Tiberias, which after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans became the principal religious centre of the Jews in northern Palestine.