Capernaum, town of ancient Palestine, on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, northeast of the modern town of Tiberias, Israel. Excavations begun at the village of Tell Hum in 1905 identified it with Capernaum, the setting for many events in the Galilean ministry of Jesus Christ described in the Gospels. It is thought to be the home of his first disciples, Saint Andrew, Saint Matthew, and Saint Peter. Today only a few ruins of the old town remain, among them a synagogue built between the 2nd and 4th centuries ad. Franciscan monks have restored part of the synagogue and built a monastery, which they still maintain. In 1981 the remains of a synagogue from the 1st century were uncovered.