Ptolemais was a Roman colony in southern Phoenicia, called Colonia Claudia Felix Ptolemais Garmanica Stabilis. It was also called "Ptolemais in Phoenicia" (or "Akko" in Phoenician language, and "Ake" or "Akre") and later in the Middle Ages was famous as "Acre". Roman Ptolemais was under Rome for nearly seven centuries from 37 BC until 636 AD, when was conquered by the Muslim Arabs. Around 37 BC the Romans conquered the Hellenized Phoenician port-city called Akko. Under Augustus was built a "Gymnasium" in the city. In 4 BC The Roman Proconsul Publius Quinctilius Varus assembled there his army in order to suppress the revolts that break out in the region following the death of Herod the Great.The Romans built a breakwater and expanded the harbor at the present location of the harbor....In the Roman/Byzantine period, Acre-Ptolemais was an important port city. It minted its own coins, and its harbor was one of the main gates to the land. Through this port the Roman Legions came by ship to crush the Jewish revolt in 67AD. It also served was used as connections to the other ports (for example, Caesarea and Jaffa)....The port of Acre (Ptolemais) was a station on Paul's naval travel, as described in Acts of the Gospels , 6-7): "And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day".[2]During the rule of the emperor Claudius there was a building drive in Ptolemais and veterans of the legions settled here. The city was one of four colonies (with Berytus, Aelia Capitolina and Caesarea Maritima) created in ancient Levant by Roman emperors for veterans of their Roman legions. As a result, Claudius granted the title "Colonia Claudia