tanya

In English, a "sea" is clearly saline. Is that distinction found in θάλασσαν, as well? In my opinion, this is not a geographic error, unless there is evidence that Mark wrote "Thalassan", thinking, erroneously, that this body of water possessed a high degree of salinity. I believe that "Thalassan" was a synonym, at that time, for "large body of water", without regard to the concentration of sodium chloride.

I disagree with this assessment.

Cyclonic stoms form in the Mediterranean Basin, and move East with predictable turbulence and accompanying devastation of wooden shacks. Boats on Lake Galilee, in such a storm, would certainly be at risk, and could well capsize.

http://www.adv-geosci.net/2/217/2005...2-217-2005.pdf

Lake Erie is even more shallow (19 Meters)than Lake Galilee (26 meters), and nevertheless, demonstrates relentless fury during the summer months, as affirmed by hundreds of ship wrecks at the bottom of the lake.

In my opinion, this is an unconvincing geographic error by Mark.

la70119

It could also mean Nazareth was in the same area as Bethlehem, but at a lower elevation, i.e., downslope. I've heard somewhere that Bethlehem was situate on a ridgetop.