Beth Guvrin - Elutheropolis

During the Early Roman period nearby Beth Guvrin replaced Maresha as the hub. The Roman army controlled the site after the Jewish Revolt was put down in AD 70. In AD 200 Septimius Severus declared it a "free city." It ruled itself according to Roman law and Roman troops were settled there. He changed its name to Eleutheropolis (the free city).