Supplementum to the Corpus of the Byzantine Churches in the Holy Land Part I: Newly Discovered Churches

SUPPLEMENTUM

TO THE

CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN THE HOLY LAND

by Asher Ovadiah and Carla Gomez de Silva

PART I: NEWLY DISCOVERED CHURCHES

Editorial Note: This very long article will be published in sections in successive volumes of Levant; ageneral list of the churches in the Corpus and the Supplementum will appear, with details of thesources of plans, at the end of the final section.

ABBREVIATIONS

AbelAkten VII

Archaeological Convention-2 5 th

Archaeological Convention-30th

Archaeological Convention

Archaeological Survey,M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah

Atti VI

Bagatti, ArcheologiaBagatti, Eglise

Bagatti, N azaretBagatti, VillaggiBaldiBaldi, EnchiridionBTSClermont-Ganneau ARP

Clermont-Ganneau, RAGCNICorbo, Cafarnao

Corbo, Santo SepolcroCorbo, St. Peter

Corbo, Monte degli Ulivi

F. M. Abel, Geographie de la Palestine, 2 vols., Paris, 1967Akten des VII Internationalen Kongresses fur Chrlstliche

Archaologie, 1965. Studi di Antichita CristianaThe Twenty-fifth Archaeological Convention, 1967, Israel Ex-

ploration Society, jerusalem, 1968, or jerusalem Through the AgesThe Thirtieth Archaeological Convention, 1972, Israel Exploration.

Society, jerusalem, or 'Eretz ShomronArchaeological Convention, Israel Exploration Society, jerusalem,

1968judea, Samaria and the Golan-Archaeological Survey 1967-1968

M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.),jerusalem, 1972Atti del VI Congresso di Archeologia Cristiana, 1962, Citta del

Vaticano, 1965B. Bagatti, L'archeologia cristiana in Palestina Firenze, 1962B. Bagatti, L'eglise de la gentilite en Palestine (Ier-XIe siec1e) jPPF,

jerusalem, 1968B. Bagatti, Gli scavi di Nazaret, Vol. I, Gerusalemme, 1967B. Bagatti, Antichi villaggi cristiani in Galilea, Gerusalemme, 1971D. Baldi, Guida di Terra Santa, Gerusalemme, 1963D. Baldi, Enchiridion Locorum Sanctorum (Jerusalem, 1955)Bible et Terre SainteCh. Clermont-Ganneau, Archaeological Researches in Palestine

during the years 1873-1874,1 (London, 1899); 2 (London, 1896)Idem., Recueil d'Archeologie Orientale, 1/8Christian News from IsraelV. Corbo, Cafarnao, Gli edifici della citta, Vol. I, FPP (Jerusalem,

1975)V. Corbo, La basilica del Santo Sepolcro, FPP (Jerusalem, 1969)V. Corbo, New Memories of St. Peter by the Sea of Galilee, The

House at Capernaum, FPP (Jerusalem, 1969)V. Corbo, Ricerche archeologiche al Monte degli Ulivi

(Gerusalemme,1965)

200

SUPPLEMENTUM-CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN THE HOLY LAND 201

Couasnon

Encyclopaedia (in Hebrew)

Encyclopaedia (in English)

Eretz-IsraelGuerin

H adashot A rchaeologiot

Har-El

HoadeLALoffreda, Et-TabghaLoffreda, St. Peter

Mada

Mader, Altchr. Bas.

OChrOrfaliPCPress

Reshumoth

Sainte -A nne

SchumacherSeker Eilot

StormeSWP

TSVan der Vliet

VilnayVincent-Abel,

Jerusalem Nouvelle

C. Couasnon, a.p., The Church of the Holy Sepulchre inJerusalem,London, 1974

Encyclopaedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land,M. Avi-Yonah (ed.), Vols. I-II, Jerusalem, 1970

Encyclopaedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land,M. Avi-Yonah (ed.), Vols. I-III,jerusalem, 1975-7

Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies (in Hebrew)V. Guerin, Description geographique, historique et archeologique de

la Palestine, (Paris, 1868/80); judee, 1 (1868), 2/3 (1869);Samarie, 1 (1874), 2 (1875); Galilee, 1/2 (1880)

Archaeological News, Department of Antiquities and Museums,Ministry of Education and Culture, Jerusalem (in Hebrew)

M. Har-EI, The Judean Desert and the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv, 1971 (inHebrew)

E. Hoade, Guide to the Holy Land, FPP,Jerusalem, 1962Liber Annuus, Studii Biblici FrancescaniS. Loffreda, Scavi di Et-Tabgha, Gerusalemme, 1970S. Loffreda, New Memories of St. Peter by the Sea of Galilee,

Jerusalem, 1969Mada (Science), Published bi-monthly by the Weizmann Science

Press of Israel, jerusalem (in Hebrew)A. E. Mader, Altchristliche Basiliken und Lokal- Traditionen in

Sudjudaa = Studien zur Geschichte und Kultur des Altertums 8,5/6 (Paderborn, 1918)

Oriend ChristianusG. Orfali, Capharnaum et ses ruines, Paris, 1922Patrologiae Graecae1. Press, A Topographical-Historical Encyclopaedia of Palestine,

Vols. I-IV, jerusalem, 1946-55 (in Hebrew)Reshumoth-Yalqut HaPirsumim, Government Publications, No.

1091 (18.5.64) (in Hebrew)jerusalem, Sainte-Anne, Presses Monastiques a Sainte-Marie de la

Pierre-qui-Vire (Yonne), 1963G. Schumacher, Thejaulan, London, 1888Seker I:Ievel Eilot, HaMoetsah HaEzorit Eilot, Heve1, December,

1967 (in Hebrew)A. Storme, Bethanie,Jerusalem, 1969E. R. Conder-H. H. Kitchener, The Survey of Western Palestine, 1/3

(London, 1881/83)La Terra SantaN. Van der Vliet, "Sainte-Marie ou e1le est nee" et la Piscine Pro-

batique,jerusalem, FPP, 1938Z. Vilnay, Yehuda ve Shomron, 1968 (in Hebrew)L. H. Vincent-F. M. Abel, Jerusalem, Recherches de topographie,

d'Archeologie et d'Histoire 2 (Paris, 1914/26)

Map References are to the 1 : 100,000 map.

202 LEVANT

PREFACE

This series of articles will provide a supplement to the study which was published in 1970. ~:~Itspurpose is to add all those churches which were discovered in Eretz-Israel from 1965 to 1975 and toupdate what was written about those known to us before 1965 in the light of the discovery ofadditional data. The geographical area this time includes the Golan Heights. The chronologicalframework is the same as that covered by the Corpus, namely, the Early Christian Period.

The methodology employed in the Supplementum, the structure and discussion, are the same asthose in the Corpust except for several slight changes in the presentation of details. For example,the dimensions of the church building and its various parts are given in the body of the text if itsplan has not been included in the Supplementum. This method is not employed in the Corpuswhere the dimensions of the building are mentioned in the body of the text along with the citationof the plan. The Supplementum consists of three parts: (1) newly discovered churches; (2) updatedmaterial on churches discussed in the Corpus; (3) appendices. The first two parts are arrangedseparately in alphabetical order and numbered consecutively. Each newly discovered church is alsogiven a number in round brackets ()which is a continuation of the numbers in the Corpus, (i.e. from182 on). The second part retains, in square brackets [ ], the original number from the Corpus. Theappendices are arranged alphabetically and numerically. If in a certain place there are two or morechurches, then each church forms an independent unit and is marked as one unit (while the stagesare marked with letters of the alphabet). At the end of this series of articles the reader will find acomprehensive list of all the churches, those published in the Corpus as well as in this work,arranged alphabetically. We should note that the Supplementum, like the Corpus, deals withchurches which were excavated or surveyed and not with those mentioned only in the literarysources. The Supplementum includes 79 newly discovered churches along with their building stages,54 churches discussed in the Corpus which have been updated after re-examination, and 58appendices. The appendices or the misidentified churches include ecclesiastical buildings whosearchaeological data are insufficient or too unclear to be useful. In this discussion, as in the Corpus,we have concentrated solely upon churches according to their various categories and types. We haveattempted to offer the facts as objectively as possible while considering the opinions of theexcavators and scholars. However, from time to time, we have seen fit to ~ffer our position as well.

In the course of preparing and completing this work we have been aided by information kindlycommunicated to us by various excavators. For this help and the permission to publish several planshere for the first time, we express our thanks and deep appreciation to Mr. E. Damati of theDepartment of Antiquities and Museums in Jerusalem for the plans of Bardala and Kh. el-'Awja et-TaQta (Kh. Umm-Zakun); to Mrs. Gabriella Bachi of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel AvivUniversity for the plan ofMotza; to Mr. Y. 'Olami of the Association of the Archaeological Survey ofIsrael, for the plans of Zarafend; to Mr. Z. Ilan of Tel Aviv, for the plan of J aliI. The plans of anumber of the churches mentioned in the Supplementum have not been published here because theexcavators are preparing the results of their excavations for final publication. We are indebted to thelate Professor M. Avi-Yonah for the plans of Giv'at-Ram (Sheikh Bader, Jerusalem), Bal)an, andHazor-Ashdod, and to the late Professor Y. Aharoni for the plan of Nahal Taninim. We owe ourspecial thanks to Dr. Carol Bosworth Kutscher, Jerusalem, for the faithful and exact translation of

':.See A. Ovadiah, Corpus of the Byzantine Churches in the Holy Land (Theophaneia 22), Bonn, 1970.

t For details, see idem., op. cit., pp. 15-16.


the Supplementum into English; to Fr. B. Bagatti of the Franciscan Order, Monastery ofFlagellation, Jerusalem, for kindly clarifying, in our conversations, some problems connected withexcavations by the Order; to Mrs. Ruth Ovadiah, Jerusalem, for the great effort and work which shehas invested in the preparation and drawing of the church plans which accompany thisSupplementum. Our sincerest thanks to all.

Technical Note

Twelve basic data are given for each church, in the order set out hereunder. These data are givenas they appear in publications. In order to prevent repetition in the body of the Catalogue,capital letters of the alphabet have been used, so that in each case a specific letter stands for acertain datum, viz.:

A. Titular.B. Character of the structure. (N.B. Sometimes page setting has required plans to be set later in the

text and cross referenced.)C. Parts of the structure whose form and purpose can be deduced from exposed remains and other

evidence.D. Measurements of the church building or of its different sections. Interior measurements are

given, unless otherwise stated.E. Character of the apse and its form.F. Link with another structure.G. Link with person, event, or sacred relic.H. Dedicated or memorial church.1. Builders ..J. Inscriptions.K. Ornamentation.L. Date. In most cases the date appearing in the body of the Catalogue is that published in the

report; in cases where it has been stated in general terms e.g.-"Byzantine period"-this resultsfrom the lack of sufficient data for a more precise chronological determination.

2°4 LEVANT

(AI

See KH. HAIYAN (no. 46/227).

1. (AIN FARA (LAURA) (182)

Map ref. 178/137.J udaean Hills, in Wadi Fara, approximately 10 km. east of Jerusalem.Excavated by P. M.Jullien in 1896.

B. CHAPEL.

C. Several courses of the chapel walls and its apse walls were uncovered. Built of well dressedstones. A small marble column and a floor of marble slabs were also found.D. Width: 6· 50 m.; length: 13 m.E. It was not mentioned whether this is internal or external.F. The Laura of St. Chariton. A new church of the laura which Chariton built and which wasconsecrated by Makarios, Bishop of Jerusalem.K. A marble floor with geometrical patterns in black and white.L. Beginning of the fourth century.

Bibl. :1. B. Bagatti, TS, XLV (1969),18-24 and bibliography.2. P. M.Jullien, Echos de Notre-Dame. de Fran~e, IV (1896),291-3°0.3. Idem., Das Heilige Land (19°5), F.D. .4. 0 Meinardus, LA, XV (1964-5),226-8.5· Har-El, 245-6.6. B. Bagatti, Archeologia, 180

(ANAB, See KH. 'UNAB EL-KABIR (No. 54/232).

2. (ARRABA (183)

Map ref. 182.250.

Upper Galilee, approximately 20 km. north of Nazareth.Excavated by V. Tsaferis on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1968.

B. CHAPEL.

J I

o!

S""!


C. The church was severely damaged by the modern construction work and part of it is covered bya new house. The walls were destroyed and we can see the bounda~ies of the structure from themosaic. It contains a single hall in whose eastern section is a space which served as an apse andwhich was separated by a small wall of which only little remains. From the wall which divides theapse from the hall, there is a descent down five steps to a subterranean structure containing a rock-hewn cistern and a cave built with plastered stones. The cave was probably connected with a saint orwas used as a crypt. The apse and the hall have a multi-coloured mosaic. The church was mutilatedat the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh century.D. Dimensions of the hall: 5'5 m. wide, 7 m. long; of the apse: 3'5 m. wide, 5'5 m. long.E. Internal, square.J. In the mosaic is a Greek inscription within a medallion. The inscription is fourteen lines long,of which only five lines are extant. It mentions that it was built during the time of a bishop namedGregorius. The name of Jesus is also mentioned.K. A multi-coloured mosaic with geometrical patterns and many scattered crosses.L. Fifth or sixth century.

Bibl. :1. V. Tsaferis, EretzIsrael} X (1971),241-4; PI. 69(4).2. Idem., CNI, XXI (1970), 41-3, n. 2.3. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 28-9 (1969),6-7.4· Hadashot Archaeologiot, 24 (1967),24.5. B. Bagatti, Villaggi, 15°-3; photos.6. Idem., T.S. (1967).7. RB, LXXVI (1969), 4°9-10; PI. XIV-C.8. A. Biran, CNI, XX (1969), 53, ns. 3-4; PI. facing 41.9. V. Tsaferis, Qadmoniot, IX (1976),25, n. 1(33), plan at 24.

3. ASCALON: BARNEA((184)

Map ref. 109.121.

Excavated by V. Tsaferis and D. Myron, on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities andMuseums in 1966-7.

B. Probably a BASILICA (in Tsaferis's opinion).C. The church is located approximately 200 m. north-west of the church which was excavated byOri in 1954 (Corpus No. 10). The walls were destroyed and what was discovered is probably themosaic of the northern aisle, and of the narthex or courtyard. The floor of the narthex continuesinto the south, but its end has not been discovered. Between the two floors a division separates themalong a width of o·50 m., probably the location of the wall which was destroyed. In the east, thefloor ends in a straight .line. There were no remains of an apse. According to the evidence of thepottery, the building was destroyed at the end of the sixth century.D. The hall measures 6 m. wide and 10'40 m.long.F. Probably a monastery.

206 LEVANT

J. Three Greek inscriptions in a mosaic:(I) A six-line inscription in the centre of the hall. The inscription indicates the completion of the

building and of the mosaic in the diaconicon in the month of Artemisius in the year 602, the EighthIndiction, in the time of the Bishop Athanasius. On this method of reckoning, by Ascalon parallels,the year is A.D. 498-499. This bishop is also known to us from other sources.

(II) The second inscription is one line long and is located in the west, between the frame of themosaic and the central field, and quotes the first line of Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shallnot want".

(III) This three-line inscription quotes the fifth line of Psalm 93 as well as the fact that the buildingand the mosaic were completed in 597 (of the era of Ascalon), that is, in A.D. 493/494. Thisinscription is on the spot on which the entrance must have been.

K. Mosaic floor: in the hall it is cruder than in the narthex where it is made with smaller tesserae.The patterns are geometrical with many small crosses and vine tendrils emanating from anamphora.

L. Two dates appear: 498/499 in the hall; 493/494 in the narthex.

Bibl. :1. V. Tsaferis,Eretz-Israel,X(1971), 241-4, PIs. 69,1-3; 70, 1-3.2. B. Bagatti, LA, XXIV(1974), 249-54; Figs. 21-5.3. RB, LXXV (1968),414-15; PI. XLIX.4. IE], XVII (1967), 125-6.5. A. Biran, eNI, XVII (1967), p. 42, ns. 1-2.6. Hadashot Archaeologiot, XXI (1967): 6.7. Encyclopaedia (English), 130.

4a/b. BARDALA (185)

Map ref. 195· 199·

Beth Shean Valley.

Excavated by Z. Yeivin and E. Damati on behalf of the Military Administration of Judea andSamaria in 1972.

B. BASILICA.

o t 5"14


C. Two building stages were discovered by the excavators: Stage a: the southern stylobate wasuncovered and columns stood upon it in situ; also, remains of a mosaic floor. Stage b: A portion ofthe nave and the aisles were uncovered. The south aisle and part of the north aisle are ~,oored withstone slabs. The nave is floored with a mosaic of crude white tesserae. A bath-house was later builtabove the western part of the church.

D. Not given.

E. Not given.

K. In Stage a: remains of a mosaic floor ornamented with crosses within a round frame, as well asstylized flowers.In Stage b: In the nave there are parts of a white mosaic.

L. Stage a: Probably from the fourth century, on the basis of the crosses decorating the mosaic. Inour opinion, before 427.

Bibl. :1. Z. Yevin, ArchaeologicalConvention-30th, pp. 150-2.

2. H adashot Archaeologiot, 44 (1972), pp. 11.

BARNEA(See ASCALON (No. 3/184).

5a/b. BEER-SHEBA (186)

Map ref. 129.°71-

Northern Negev.

The church was first discovered in 1948; excavated by Yael Israeli on behalf of the Israel Departmentof Antiquities and Museums in 1968.

Stage aB. BASILICA

C. Three apses were discovered. The floor was paved.with marble slabs and large stones, only afew of which remained in situ. Of the others, the imprints in mortar are all that remain.

D. Width 15 m.; length 24 m.

E. Not known in detail.

F. Rooms in the south of the church, one of which was embellished in its time with a sumptuouswall mosaic made principally of coloured glass tesserae.

K. The walls were decorated with colourful frescoes, remains of which were found scattered allover the area.

L. Byzantine.

Stage bB. BASILICA. Up until approximately thirty years ago, it was possible to see the three apses.

C. In the central apse a floor was found which was approximately 60 cm higher. This floor ispaved in white, black, green, and red stones, Traces of the altar remain. Some graves were foundbetween the floors. According to the coins found from the Umayad period, the church continuedto exist until the Arab conquest.

208

Bibl. :1. A. Biran, eN!, XIX, ns. 3-4 (1968), 44-5.2. Y. Israeli, RB, LXXV (968), 415-16.3. H adashot A rchaeologiot, 22-3 (1967), 29.

LEVANT

6. BETH EL (187)Map ref. 172.148.

J udaean Hills, approximately 17 km. north of Jerusalem.

M. J. Lagrange visited the site in 1890. W. F. Albright excavated Beth El on behalf of the AmericanSchools of Oriental Research in Jerusalem in 1934-60.

B. CHAPEL(?).

c. A church of large dimensions. A mosque was constructed on its remains. The church is withinthe city wall. Lagrange during his visit in 1890 saw remains of a church with only a single hall;during his second visit, two years later, he found the mosque in its place.

E. Not given.

F. Probably connected with the monastery.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :See Part II [No. 6/110].

7. BETH EL: BUR] BEITIN (188)Map ref. 173.147.Judaen Hills; south-east of Beth E1.

A. Dedicated to Abraham. (According to A. M. Schneider, it was erected on the spot whereAbraham pitched his tent.)

B/C. The excavators do not describe the type of church or the parts which were discovered. InBaldi's opinion, this was a Roman structure which was converted to a church.

G. According to the tradition, it was erected on the spot where Abraham pitched his tent.

H. Memorial church.

L. Sixth century.

Bibl. :See Part II [No. 6/110].

8. BETHLEHEM (189)Map ref. 169.123.

J udaean Hills.

Excavated by S. Saller on behalf of the SBF in 1962.

B. CHAPEL.

C. The church is approximately 100 m. north of the Basilica of the Nativity. It is built on a slopeand the northern part disappeared. The western, southern, and part of the eastern wall with thebeginning of the apse, remain. A mosaic floor with an inscription.

E. The type of apse is not mentioned.

SUPPLEMENTUM-C'ORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN THE HOLY LAND 20g

F. Connected to additional rooms. According to Bagatti, this was a monastery chapel.

J. A Greek inscription inside a circle, the northern half of which was destroyed. Thirteen red linesdivide the area into fourteen lines of the inscription. In the excavator's opinion, it seems to be thekind of inscription which mentions the clergy, the donors, the artist, and the date. The namesSergius, Isodorus, and Stephanus appear. The excavator thinks that these are the names ofChristians who were tortured on the spot where the chapel was built.

K. A white mosaic with a pattern of small flowers.

L. According to the inscription and the type of the mosaic, the Church dates from the period ofthe Persian conquest (614-28, when many Christians were killed. Bagatti maintains that the chapelwas built in the later Arab period.

Bibl. :1. S. Saller, LA, XXII (1972),153-68; and photos.2. B. Bagatti, RB, LXXII (1965),271.

g. BETHLEHEM IN GALILEE (lg0)

Map ref. 168.238.

Lower Galilee.

Excavated by A. Ovadiah on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1965.

B. BASILICA (?).

C. A mosaic floor was discovered, belonging to the south aisle of the church and on it were marblecolumns belonging to the chancel. The nave, the north aisle, and the apse were destroyed at the timethat the road was paved. On the spot, many fragments of marble belonging to the small columnsand the chancel were discovered, as well as architectural and glass fragments. The local inhabitantsfound a square marble slab with a cross in the centre as well as fragments of columns. On the basisof existing data (fragments of roof tiles and ashes which were discovered on the floor), there isevidence that the church was probably destroyed by fire.

J. Fragments of a Greek inscription were discovered.

K. A multi-coloured mosaic floor with fields of geometrical patterns.

L. Fifth-sixth centuries.

Bibl. :1. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 14 (April, 1965), 7.

BUR] BEITINSee BETH EL (no. 7/188).

BUR] EL-LISANEHSee KH. EL-BURj (No. 42/223).

10. CAPERNAUM: KEFAR NAHUM (191)

Map ref. 204. 254.

North-western bank of the sea of Galilee.

210 LEVANT

Excavated by V. Corbo on behalf of the SBF in 1968-72. Previous excavations were carried out byFather V. Hinterkeuser and Father G. Orfali in 1906; afterwards, Orfali continued them in 1921;later on, P. Gassi found a small apse on the east side.A. St. Petrus.B. Centralized-octagonal.

.....••

o, 5 10"'.

_ 'th (tnt .

•• 3rci Ctn~.

C. An octagonal structure within a larger octagon, as well as a portico along the length of fivesides-south, south-west, west, north-west, and north. The church and the additional rooms in theeast end, connected to the church, were entered through the portico, In the east, two chamberswhich are linked by a passage behind the eastern side of the larger octagon. The parts of the porticowhich were preserved are: the northern and north-western side above the mosaic floor, as well as thethresholds and the beginning of the pilasters. On the rest of the three sides, the foundations underthe level of the thresholds were preserved. The pilasters are angular, except for two in the east whichare joined to two rooms. The northern threshold is made almost entirely of white stone. The north-western threshold is made of basalt. The entrance to the portico was via the large openings betweenthe pilasters. The portico was floored with a mosaic which has been almost entirely preserved in thenorthern part, as well as a large part in the north-west. From the portico, the large octagon wasentered via three openings, one on the west side, the second on the north-west side, and the third onthe south-west side. On the south-east side of the octagon there was an opening; there is noevidence of a similar opening in the north -east side to the northern chamber, because this part of thewall was destroyed when a pool was built on the spot in the Middle Ages. The octagon was flooredwith a mosaic of which only a small part in the east has been preserved. In the centre there is asmaller octagon whose walls are preserved to the height of the thresholds above a mosaic floor, asare two corner pilasters in situ. Using this as a basis, the excavator determined that in the eightcorners there were pilasters and not columns. The foundations of all the structures rest upon wallsof structures from the Roman period, or upon their floors. The octagon in the centre is built upona room which is thought to have belonged to the house of Petrus and which was later converted to adomus ecclesia by the local sects. The entire complex is enclosed within walls which almost form asquare and which were built by the local sects. At a later stage, an apse was built on the eastern sideof the church by demolishing a part of the wall which framed it, and in its centre a small baptismal

SUPPLEMENTUM-CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCCIES IN THE HOLY LAND 211

font was built, in the passage which connected the two chambers. This part probably remainedseparate from the larger octagon and at any rate, following the construction of the baptismal fontit was impossible to set up an altar on the spot. In Orfali's opinion, the octagonal structure was abaptistery. The excavators did not prove that the lower hall served as a domus ecclesia before the fourthcentury. As for the roof of the structure, it is impossible to know how it was. There are twopossibilities: (1) that there were three levels to the roof, with the roof of the central octagon beingthe highest and that of the portico the lowest; (2) that both of the central octagons were covered byone roof sloping outward and the portico and the annexed parts were covered by a lower roof.

E. There is no apse (the existing apse used for the baptismal font).

F. Annexed rooms.

G. Connected with the house of Petrus.

H. Memorial (?).

j. In the domus ecclesia there are one hundred and twenty-four Greek inscriptions, eighteen inSyriac, and fifteen in Hebrew.

K. Mosaics: inside the central octagon, a fish-scale pattern is depicted, in the middle of which is apeacock spreading its tail; in the large octagon there is a vegetal pattern which is typically Nilotic. Inthe portico circles, and in the space between them are small flowers forming crosses.

L. Mid-fifth century. The date was fixed on the basis of the pottery and coins which were foundthere as well as on the /descriptions by pilgrims. Egeria speaks of a domus ecclesia and theAntoninus Placentinus already speaks of a basilica on the site in 570. If the date is correct, this is themost ancient centralized church in Eretz-Israel. The church was probably abandoned at thebeginning of the Arab conquest.

Bib!. :1. V. Corbo, Cafarnao, 26-106; photos 1-49b; Tav. I-X.2. Idem., LA, XVIII (1968),5-54.3. Idem., St. Peter, 8-38; Plan and photos.4. Idem., RB, LXX (1969),557-63.5. Idem., CNI, XX (1969),39-5°, ns. 1-2; Plans and photos.6. Idem., TS, XLV (1969),74-8; Plans and photos.z. Idem, TS, XLV (1969),13°-6; Plan and photos.8. Idem., BTS (1969),8-16, n. 115; Plan and photos.9. Idem., IE], 18 (1968), 197-8.

10. G. Foerster, IE], 21 (1971),2°9-11.11. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 27 (1968), 3°-2.12. D. Sullivan, CNI, XXV (1974), n. 1 (17),38-42.13· A. Biran, CNI, XX (1969),4°, ns. 3-4.14· M. Avi-Yonah, QDAP, III (1934), 43-4.15. M. Piccirillo, TS, XLIX (1973),226-37; photos (graffiti).

11. CYPROS: TELLEL-(AKABA (192)

Map ref. 190.139.

judaean Desert, west of jericho.

212 LEVANT

Excavated by E. Netzer and E. Damati on behalf of the Staff Officer for Archaeology of Judea andSamaria and the Hebrew University, jerusalem, in 1974.B. CHAPEL (?).

o, s, 40, 15"1'.,

c. The chapel (?) consists of one square hall and is situated in the centre of the architecturalcomplex. I t is orientated to the east. There is no apse.F. Probably a monastery.L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 54-5 (july 1975), 25·2. E. Netzer, Q.admoniot, VIII, Nos. 2-3 (30-31),1975,55,61.

12. DEIR (ALLA (193)

Map ref. 149.159.

Samarian Hills.The site was surveyed by V. Guerin.B. BASILICA according to V. Guerin, CHAPEL according to M. Avi-Yonah.C. Guerin reported that he found remains of a church which survived to a low height. Theorientation is west-east. On the basis of the remains of columns scattered on the ground, Guerindetermined that this was a church with three halls. In one of the aisles is a water reservoir as oftenappears in churches from the same period. It had a mosaic floor, whose tesserae were scatteredabout the site.D. length: 37 paces; width: 14 paces; the proportion between the width and the length isapproximately 1 : 2·5.

K. White mosaic floor.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. V. Guerin7 Samarie II (1875), 121.2. M. Avi-Yonah, Q.DAP, I (1932),151 (mosaics).


13. DEIR SERUR (194)

Map ref. 162.187.

Samarian Hills.

Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1873.

B. BASILICA (?).

C. Probably a basilica with three halls. The structure faces east. There is no apse; on the easternside, the wall is straight. In the western wall there is an opening leading to a rectangular corridorsomewhat like a narthex. The opening is not along the central axis of the building, but is shifted abit southward. Well constructed, smooth, not crude (the stones are tightly fitted). The building has amosaic floor.

E. Not extant.

K. Mosaic floor; columns; one of the capitals is in the Byzantine style.

L. Byzantine (?).

Bibl.:1. SWP, II (1882),180-1; Plan on 180.

14. DEIR WADI EL-QILT: MONASTERY OF SS.JOHN AND GEORGE OF CHOZIBA (195)

Map ref. 190.139.

J udaean Desert.

Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1873 and by O. Meinardus in 1964.

A. SSeJohn and George of Choziba. Before that, it was named after St. Stephen.

B. CHAPEL. (Plan on p. 214)

C. The structure stands at the back and south-east of the Church of the Virgin. The north and eastsides are hewn from the rock, and the west and south walls \vere built. It is square but irregularlyshaped. The entrance to the chapel is from the south-west corner, from the corridor shared by thetwo churches. The structure has a dome ,vhich was probably built later. In the east wall of the smallapse and north of it is another small niche. In the north wall is a reliquary with the skulls of fourteenmartyred monks from the period of the Persian conquest in 614. In the south wall in a niche,

214 LEVANT

George of Choziba is buried and over the niche is his skull. (He lived in the seventh century). Thechapel has a mosaic floor and wall paintings.

E. Internal.

F. Church and monastery.

G. Tomb ofSt. George ofChoziba.

H. Dedicated to SS.John and George ofChoziba.

I. According to Antonius (634) who wrote the life of George Cozibitis, the monastery began as alaura and its monks built the first oratorium, named for St. Stephen, around 420-430.

K. The coloured mosaic floor has geometrical patterns of the type widespread in Eretz-Israel, asin the Church of St. Stephen and the Eleona in Jerusalem. Wall paintings of saints, some from thefifth-sixth centuries, the rest from the thirteenth century.

L. A.D. 420-430.

Bibl. :1. O. Meinardus, LA, XV (1964-5),232-9.2. SWP, III (1883),193-5, plan on 192.3· Hoade,446.4. M. Avi-Yonah, QjJAP, II (1932),154.5· Har-El, 247-50.

DER MARJUHANNASee QASR EL-YAHUD (No. 63/244).

DJFNASee JIFNA (No. 29-3°/210-211).

SUPPLEMENTUM-CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN THE HOLY LANDi 215

15. DUER EL-LOZ (196)Map ref. 226.244.

Golan Heights.Surveyed by C. Epstein and S. Gutman on behalf of the Ar,chaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.C. Remains of a church built of basalt rocks and ornamented with limestones. Tiles, gutters, slabsof limestone, and tesserae. Especially well preserved were (an additional?) rectangular, plasteredchapel with a niche on the rear( ?) wall.E. Probably internal but unclear from the surveyors' report.F. Additional structures in the north-east; a room with plastered walls, a round pool with an arch,probably part of a monastery.K. A marble slab and small chancel columns; many mosaic cubes made of glass. (It isunclear whether they are from the floor, the walls, or the ceiling.)L. Not given. (Byzantine?).

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 288.

16a/c. (EIN HA-SHIV(AH: ET-TABGHA: MENSA CHRISTI (197)

Map ref. 201.252.

The north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee.S. Loffreda and B. Bagatti carried out excavations in 1968 on behalf of the SBF. Partial excavationswere carried out by the Franciscans in 1933.

A. The site has been called by various names: Mensa Domini, Mensa Christi, and Primatus Petri. .B. CHAPEL.

o,

C. Loffreda identifies five construction levels on the site, starting from the Late Roman to theByzantine period inclusive. Before the church was built, there had been a quarry on the site whichwas worked from the beginning of the second century until approximately the fourth century.

216 LEVANT

Stage aNext to the rock-hewn steps leading up from the Sea of Galilee, there was a sanctified structure ofwhich portions of a wall and sections of plaster remain. The finds are rather too scanty for us tosketch the plan of the structure which was doubtless small. The structure is from the end of thefourth century, beginning of the fifth century, contemporary with the first Church of the Loaves andthe Fishes and was probably the building which the pilgrim Aetheria (Egeria) saw.

Stage bThere were foundations of walls on three sides: the south, the west, and the north. The apse has notsurvived. There was one entrance from the west, another from the north, and probably a thirdentrance from the south. The greater part of the walls rest upon the rock. Uncut rectangular basaltstones were used. The walls were plastered with a thin layer of plaster. There are three layers offloors. The walls are especially thick. Their thickness enables us to assume that the ceiling was a vaultinstead of wood. The main spot was the rock on the east side which was called by pilgrims MensaDomini or Tabula. The apse was around it. This stage was built in the fifth century and was probablydestroyed at the time of the Persian conquest in 614. This explains the fact that Arculfus, during hisvisit in 670, did not see a church on this site.

Stage cThe floor of the early church is raised c. 30 cm. above the centre of the hall and up to the beginningof the sacred rock. In this way the structure is divided into three parts: from the entrance to thecentre of the hall (in this part the old floor was still there); from the centre of the hall to the rock(with the raised floor); the part of the apse with the rock (which was higher). This stage is from theend of the seventh, beginning of the eighth century.

Of the two late stages, one of them is mentioned by Father Daniel in 1106; the last one is arenovated building from approximately the middle of the thirteenth century, destroyed by Baybarsin 1263. The chapel is located approximately 200 m. north-east of the Church of the Loaves and theFishes, on the shore of the lake. Connected with the site of Jesus' appearance before the Apostlesafter the Resurrection, as is told in John 21 : 9.

Bibl. :1. S. Loffreda, LA, XVII (1968),238-43, Fig. 2 at 241 (plan); TS, XLIV (1968),3°5-10.2. S. Loffreda, Et-Tabgha, photos and plan.3. S. Loffreda, St. Peter, 61-70, plan at 62.4. D. Meysing, BTS, 1965, 12-16, n. 77, photos and plan.5. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 27 (1968),3°.6. P. Benoit, RB, LXXVIII (197 d, 147·7. IE], 1968, 198.8. eNI, XX (1969),4°, ns. 3-4.

ET-TABGHASee 'EIN HA-SHIV'AH (No. 16/197).

17. GHALGHALE (198)

Map ref. 196.139.

South Jordan Valley, not far from the Jordan River.

The American Schools of Oriental Research organized excavations in 1950.

B. BASILICA (in the first stage).


C. There are five building stages of the church which existed from the fourth century to the ninthcentury. The first church had a nave and two aisles; in later stages the church was made smaller. Partof a mosaic floor with an inscription. It is thought that this was the Church of theDODEKALITHON mentioned by pilgrims in the fifth-sixth centuries. It was abandoned in theninth century.G. If this is the DODEKALITHON, then it is connected with the monument of the twelve stonesthat the Israelites erected in Gilgal, where they had crossed the jordan U osh. IV, 5).j. A Latin inscription in mosaic.K. Parts of a mosaic Hoor.L. Fifth-sixth centuries.Bib!. :1. Baldi, 261-3,2. Hoade} 471-2.3. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 114

GREEK CHURCHSeejERUSALEM, MOUNT OF OLIVES, (No. 23/2°4).

18. HADITHA (199)

Map ref. 145.152.In the Shephela, approximately 5 km. east of Lod.Excavated by Y. Ori on behalf of the Department of Antiquities of the Mandatory Government in194°·B. CHAPEL.

C. The results of the excavations were not published during the excavator's lifetime. There is aroom but there are only a few remains of its walls in the south-west corner. A portion of the mosaicremains in the south-eastern corner of the room, within which there are two inscriptions facing eastas is customary in churches. The room belongs to a group of structures which were not excavated.

D. The room measures: 5·25 m. long, 4·25 m. wide.E. Not discovered.F. Several structures.j. Two inscriptions in Greek. One consists of two lines out of a number of lines in which it isstated that the place of prayer was built (in the time of --- and the date is lacking). From thecontents of this inscription, it was concluded that this is a chapel. The second inscription has six linesand contains a prayer for redemption by those who participated in the building. The expression"Lord God of Hosts" appears, taken from the Psalms in the Targum (79 :5, 8, 20; 83:9; 88 :9). Eachinscription begins with a cross.K. A coloured mosaic with geometrical patterns, a Nilotic theme, and the central field consistingof vine-trellis forming around medallions within which the two inscriptions were placed. Thedecorative character and the inscriptions are familiar to us from many other churches.L. Byzantine.Bibl. :1. M. Avi-Yonah, IE], 22 (1972),118-22, PIs. 20-3.2. Idem., Eretz-Israel, 11 (1973), 45-7; PIs. 10-11.

218 LEVANT

10 J'l's

/01

)

c:::J HEROD/AN

_ EARLY CHRISTIAN

19. HERODIUM:JEEEL FUREIDIS (200)

Map ref. 173.119.

j udaean Desert, south -east of jerusalem.The site has been excavated by V. Corbo, on behalf of the Italian Foreign Office in 1962-67.

B. CHAPEL.

C. A chapel like those found in monasteries. It is built within a palace-fortress of Herod's, uponstrata of rubble from the period of the jewish Wars. It is on the western side between the baths andthe triclinium. The monks used the stones which they found on the site. The southern and westernwalls rest upon Herodian walls. The northern and eastern walls were rebuilt without diggingfoundations. The floor is 1·60 m. above the Herodian floor. The walls are preserved to a maximumheight of 2 -90 m. The church door is a little higher than the chapel floor. A step leads to an apse inwhich there are niches in the walls and on the sides for liturgical purposes. In the southern wall, infront of the apse, there is another small niche in which there are many fragments of glass. The apsefloor is made of tesserae. The apse is unusual, beginning from the second course; the radius iselongated from 15 to 20 cm. In the rubble are two round stones which were part of a small window_

D. Measurements: width 3-47 m.; length 7-43 m. up to the step of the apse; including the apse, thelength is 9-03 m.E. Internal.F. A monastery which from the fifth to the sixth centuries existed until the end of the seventhcentury. In the monastery's structures there are graffiti. The monastic community probably camefrom Egypt.K. A mosaic floor without patterns.L. Byzantine.


Bibl. :1. Corbo, LA, XVII (1967), 116-8.2. Idem., CNI, XVIII, nos. 3-4 (1967),33-6; Fig. facing 33.3. Idem., Qadmoniot, I (1968),132-6; and Fig. at 133·4. Idem., RB, LXXI (1964),258-63; PI. LIlIa.5. Idem., LA, XIII (1962-3),266-76, photos.6. Idem., RB, LXXV (1968),424-8.7. Idem., Archaeological Convention-25th, 46-7.8. G. Foerster, Encyclopaedia (English), 510.

20. HERODIUM (LOWER CITY) (201)

Map ref. 172.119.

Judaean Desert, north of the Beit Sahour- Teko 'a Road, at the foot of Herodion.Excavated by E. Netzer on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University in co-operation with the Staff Officer for Archaeology inJudea and Samaria in 1973.A. St. Michael.B. BASILICA.

C. A church built on top of the ruins of Herodian structures. Almost entirely uncovered; has amosaic Hoor with an inscription and a "cosmic cross".E. Not mentioned by the excavator.H. Dedicated to St. Michael.J. A Greek inscription dedicates the church to St. Michael and gives the names of the donors. Thefive-line inscription appears inside a tabula ansata at the extremity of the floor area.K. A mosaic Hoor with geometrical patterns.L. Byzantine.

Bib!. :1. V. Tsaferis, CNI, XXIV (1974), p. 181, n. 4(16).2. TS, L (1974), 30-3 and photos.3· Hadashot Archaeologiot, 48-9 -1974),71.4. Encyclopaedia (English), 5°9; photo of mosaic.

21. HURVAT BODEDA (202)

Map ref. 140.890.

In the southern Negev near Eilat (nicknamed "The Lost City").Excavated by Z. Meshel and B. Sass on behalf of the Field School of Eilat in 1974.

B. CHAPEL.

C. The site was described in 1952 by I. Barslavi and surveyed in 1965 by B. Rothenberg. In the1974 excavations it was discovered that this is a quarry with only a few structures, among themthe chapel, which was already identified by I. Barslavi. This is a rectangular room which faces east;decorations on the walls: crosses and Greek inscriptions carved or painted.

D. Not given.

220 LEVANT

E. Not given.F. Part of a complex of several structures.

J. Greek inscriptions on the walls.K. Decorations including crosses, painted on the walls.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. IE], 24 (1974),284-5; PI. 55F (communicated by Z. Meshel and B. Sass).2. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 51-2 (1974),39.3. B. Rothenberg, Seher Eilot, 297.

jACOBJS WELLSee NABLUS (No. 59/240).

22. JEBEL EL-QAFSE: SALTUS DOMINI (203)

Map ref. 178.231.

Lower Galilee, south of Nazareth.

B. Bagatti visited the site in 1966.

A. Dedicated to the Virgin ("in honore Sanctae Mariae").B. CHAPEL.

o, 3~,

C. A cave on the slope of the hill was used and a building was added to it. In the cave is a nichewhich served as an apse. Both the cave and the niche are covered with plaster mixed with 'potsherdswhich seem to be Byzantine. The church belonged to a laura which was first mentioned in 808 in the"Commentarium de Casis Dei" and was already abandoned in the Crusader period. In the churchthere were pictures of the saints on the walls which could still be seen three hundred years ago.Today they are no longer discernible.D. The niche is 2' 2 m. long, 1'00-1·63 m. wide, 1'90-2' 50 m. high.

E. Internal.


F. Monastery-laura.G. Memorial.L. Byzantine.

Bib!.:1. B. Bagatti, Naz.aret} 241-5; Plan and photos.2. Idem. Villaggi, 252-3; photos.3. Idem., TS, 1956.4· Baldi, 390.5. Idem, Enchiridion, no. lOSS.

6. Reshumoth, §29.7. SWP, I (188}), 308.

JEBEL FUREIDISSee HERODIUM (No. 191200).

JEBEL KURUNTULSee MOUNT OF QUARANTINE (No. 581239).

23-28. JERUSALEM (2°4-2°9)

Map ref. 171.132.J udaean Hills.

23. MOUNT OF OLIVES: GREEK CHURCH (204)

Excavated by C. Spiro on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1973-4.B. CHAPEL (?). Not indicated.C. The following were discovered: a mosaic floor of a church, the square in front of it, a largesubterranean hall. Probably all of these belonged to a monastery. The dimensions of the churchwere not made clear, although an area of 11 m. x 17m. was excavated.F. Monastery. According to the sources we know that there was a monastery on the site beginningwith the Byzantine period and continuing until the end of the Crusader period, when it wasdestroyed by Salal) Ad-Din.K. A mosaic with various geometric patterns.L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 51-2 (1974), 25.

24. NEW CHURCH OF THE THE 0 TOKOS: NEA (205)

In the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.Excavated by N. Avigad on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University, TheIsrael Exploration Society and the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1969-71.A. New Church of the Theotokos, abbreviated "Nea".B. BASILICA.

222 LEVANT

C. Only parts were discovered: a southern apse and sections of walls. On the basis of the scantyfinds, it is difficult to reconstruct the plan of the church, but the extraordinary dimensions, thelocation, and the information from the sources enable us to identify it as the "Nea". The wall iscontinuous from north to south for 13.70 m. and is 6.50 m. thick. This wall and the apse are built oflarge stones in the external part and smaller stones in the internal part. Between them is fillreinforced with mortar. The wall is built upon the rock. There are also two internal walls. One wall,south of the apse and at a right angle to the main wall, is 2 m. thick, built upon the rock. The uppercourse, which was preserved, is at the height of the floor of the adjoining room. The second wall,7.60 m. thick, west of the main wall and parallel to it, was not surveyed in detail. These two wallshint at a special plan. The parts which are extant probably served as the foundation of the building.This was probably a basilica with three apses.

D. Diameter of the apse 5 m.

E. Southern apse-internal; the central and northern apses have not survived.

F. Probably remains of the large hospital which was connected to the church.

H. Dedicated to the Theotokos.

I. Emperor Justinian. The "Nea" church was erected on November 20, 543 and is described byProcopiusC:~) and many pilgrims. It also appears on the Madaba Map (Cf.: Church of St. John atEphesus).

L. 543. Destroyed in an earthquake in the eighth century. In 1914, during building operations inthe Old City, the foundations ""ere discovered. Vincent ascribed them to the stylobates of the archeson which the "Nea" church was erected. In the 1963 excavations outside the city wall, KathleenKenyon discovered, adjacent to the Jewish Quarter, remains of two large buildings, one of which isorientated east-west, the other north-south. Perhaps these were foundations of porticos.

Bibl. :1. N. Avigad, IE], 20 (1970), 137-8; PI. 32B; (second preliminary report).2. Idem., Qadmoniot, 19-20, 1972, 101.3. M. Avi-Yonah, Encyclopaedia (Hebrew), 228.4. Idem., Encyclopaedia (English) 617.5. N. Avigad, RB, LXXX (1973),578; Pi. XXVIIIa.6. M. Avi-Yonah, eNI, XXIV (973), 49, n. 1.7· HadashotArchaeologiot, 54-5 (1975),17·8. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 34-5 (970), 16-17.9. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 48-9 (1974),68.

10. B. Bagatti, Eglise, 103-5 (quotes Procopius).11. Procopius(':~), Buildings, V, 6 (Loeb, ed., VII, London-Cambridge (Mass.)), 1964,342-9.

25. ON THE HILL) NEAR ST. ANDREW}S CHURCH (206)

The site was excavated by G. Barkay during salvage excavations on behalf of the Israel Departmentof Antiquities and Museums and the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University in 1975.

B. Probably a BASILICA.

C. Few architectural remains are left: a threshold in situ with sockets for the hinge of the door andthe lock. West of the threshold there are three graves of which there are remains of crosses drawn onthe sides, and next to them is a small room whose entrance is via a shaft from the west. The graves aswell as the room are below the floor level of the western hall. Scattered about the area were stone


and marble slabs in different shapes and colours which indicate opus sectile; tesserae in variouscolours; remains of marble slabs from a floor as well as glass tesserae in various colours, probablyfrom a wall mosaic. There are no additional parts of the floor or the structure; the parts from thenorth and south of the structure were destroyed when the road was paved. In the opinion of theexcavator, the finds indicate the presence of a sumptuous church on this site during the Byzantineperiod; the graves were a part of the structure and the subterranean room served as a crypt.K. Opus sectile, mosaic (probably a wall-mosaic).L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. G. Barkay, JE], 26 (1976), 57-8.

26. PROBATICA (207)

Excavations were carried out by R. deVaux and J. M. Rousee on behalf of the Peres Blancs deSainte-Anne in 1957 and 1962.

A. The Church of the Paralytic-Probatica.B. BASILICA.

C. The church is built over a double pool called "Probatica" (-"Place of Loving-kindness"-Bethesda); the western part is built on the dam between the two pools and over part of the poolsthemselves, and the eastern part upon the ground. In order to get a level surface for building thechurch, pilasters were built in the southern pool and above them, arches, for there was still water inthe pool. In the northern pool, the bottom storey of the church, and the rest of the area was turnedinto a garden. This is a basilica with three halls of the same size, all of which end in the east inidentical round apses. The nave in its western part is over the dam and of the same width, and this iswhat determined the width of the two aisles. The internal division was probably made with columns;several square bases are left with a cross in relief on them. The floor was made of marble slabs.There was probably a narthex whose floor was made of mosaic. According to Vincent'sreconstruction, the church was orientated east-to-west: in the east there was an atrium and in thewest was an apse above a dam. There was a small portico in front of the entrance to the church. Alsoindicated were two rows of columns with nine columns on each side, and another column attachedto an apse.

D. Width: 18 m.; length: 45 m.

224 LEVANT

E. Three internal apses according to the draft of the Peres Blancs. Bagatti notes that according tothe findings, it is difficult to determine whether the apses were surrounded by the external wall orwere themselves external.F. North-east of the church and attached to it is an additional small structure containing a mosaicfloor with geometrical patterns within which are a cross and a flower. Signs of an altar are visible.The excavators identify it as a martyrium. Rooms of a monastery.

G. The church was built in memory of the healing of the paralytic, on the site where a pagantemple to Aescalepius once stood. The Byzantine church was also dedicated to Mary on the strengthof apocryphal writings from the second century, according to which she was born close to theTemple in jerusalem.

H. Memorial.K. Column bases with a cross; a mosaic in the narthex. In the chapel of the martyrium are twolayers of mosaic.L. Fifth century, in the excavator's opinion. Probably at the beginning of the century, andthe crosses on the mosaic floor point to a construction date before 427. Burnt by the Persians in 614;renovated by Modestus shortly afterwards. According to the writings of St. Sophronicus, Patriarchof jerusalem (634-638), it was standing during his lifetime. The Crusaders built a new church, theMoustier, above part of the Byzantine basilica. Most of the stones of the Byzantine church were usedto build the adjacent church, the Crusader Church of St. Anne.

Bibl. :1. J. M. Rousee, Atti, VI, 169-76.2. Idem., RB, LXIX (1962), 107-9.3. J. M. Rousee and R. deVaux, RB, LXIV (1957),226-8.4. A. Duprez, BTS, 86 (1966), 4-15 and plan and photos.5. Van der Vliet.6. B. Bagatti, Eglise, 176-8; Plan-fig. 69.7. Sainte-Anne, 1-10 and reconstruction.8. P. Benoit, Archaeological Convention-25th, 48-50, PI. VIII.9. B. Bagatti, Bibbia e Oriente, I (1959),12-14, Tv. II.

10. Vincent-Abel,Jerusalem Nouvelle 669-84, PI. LXXV.11. Encyclopaedia (in English), 619.12. Encyclopaedia (in Hebrew), 230.

13. Baldi) Enchiridion, 682-720 (?).

27. ST. ANNA (208)

(near the Church of the Paralytic).Excavated by P. van derVliet in 1896.

A. St. Anna.B. CHAPEL.

C. The chapel is under the floor of the Crusader Church of St. Anne, approximately 1 m. belowthe floor. This is a small room whose south-eastern corner, hewn from the rock, is visible; also partof the plaster of the walls and the mosaic floor. According to Vincent this was the original Church ofthe Birthplace of Mary, and according to the precedent of the Church of the Nativity and the Churchof the Holy Sepulchre, a pagan structure was erected on the site in the second century, in order to


efface the Christian site. Bagatti does not accept this point of view, and the fact that in the MiddleAges a Church of St. Anne was erected on the site does not suffice to prove that it was an oratorium)for there is a complete lack of physical signs of this function. Father Benoit does not think that thiswas a chapel.D. 5.78 m. long.K. A mosaic floor; coloured plaster of various hues.L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Van der Vliet.2. Vincent-Abel,Jerusalem Nouvelle) 717-18.3. B. Bagatti, Archeologia, 36-7.4. P. Benoit, ArchaeologicalConvention-25th, 51-3.

28. ST. PETER IN GALLICANTU (209)

Excavated by P. L. Germer-Durand on behalf of the Augustinian Order of the Assumption in 1914.A. St. Peter in Gallicantu.B. BASILICA.

•••a••

c. The church is built on the eastern slope of Mt. Zion and is orientated weSt-east. The easternpart is the most damaged because of the slope, and little remains of it. On the eastern side, higherfoundations were built in order to receive a large surface. According to the published plan, this is arectangular structure with three halls. On the eastern side, the aisles end in two rooms from whichthere is access to the area of the apse. There is no sign of a circular apse. In the west is a groupof rooms in front of the church. Some of the parts of the mosaic on the floor have fallen into thecaves underneath. In the excavator's opinion, the church was rebuilt several times. There wasprobably a crypt underneath.

LEVANT

E. Not discovered.

F. Monastery.G. Connected to the story in the Gospels about Peter and the crowing of the cock.H. Memorial.J. Two Greek inscriptions. One on the north side, perhaps next to one of the entrances, is a linefrom Psalm 120: 8. In the second, "Maria", the name of one of the donors is mentioned.K. Parts of a mosaic with various geometrical patterns. Capitals which had been used in antae,made of malaky-stone similar to those in the Church of St. Stephen in which there are crosses.L. In the excavator's opinion, the church was first built in the fifth century and stood until thefourteenth century. In Vincent's opinion, we may attribute only the capitals and parts of themosaic in the upper church to the second half of the fifth century; the walls are carelessly built,which is not appropriate to fifth century construction.

Bibl. :1. P. L. Germer-Durand, RB, 11 (1914), 71-94; 223-46 and photos; PIs. V-XI; Plan-pI. IX.2. L. H. Vincent, RB, 39 (193°),226-56.3. Vincent-Abel,Jerusalem Nouvelle, III, 5°6-15, PIs. L-LIII.4. Baldi, 184-5.5. Bagatti, Archeologia 100.

29-30. jIFNA:DjIFNA(210-211)Map ref. 171.152.

Southern Samarian Hills, north of Jerusalem.Many scholars have visited the site: E. Robinson, V. Guerin in 1869; Conder and Kitchener in 1881;A. M. Schneider in 1932-3; Z. Kallai in 1967-68; B. Bagatti in 1970 when he excavated itpartially on behalf of the SBF.

29 (210): SOUTH CHURCH

A. St. George.B. BASILICA (in the first stage).

IJ

I,I,I

•••0 2- 4

1M.


C. A great deal of earth has been heaped up around the church so we do not know the originalplan. Today one elongated hall is visible, and in it we may discern two building stages from twodifferent periods. The apse is built of dressed stones and is preserved to a great height. The walls arebuilt of stones of various kinds, some of which have been re-used. Lintels and column bases servedas building materials. On the basis of columns found there, the first church probably had three partsand within it were two rows of columns with six columns in each row. In the later period, it had onehall. The apse is more than a semi-circle. In the northern wall, rather near the beginning of the apse,there is a niche belonging to the original building (1· 27m. high; 30 em. wide). Its function is notclear. The original floor is mosaic (the later floor is stone).

E. More than a semi-circle (it is not clear whether internal or external), the external part has notbeen excavated.

H. Dedicated to St. George.

K. Mosaic floor; capitals of various shapes and with a cross and a rosette in an abacus.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. B. Bagatti, TS, XLVII (1971),251-3; plan and photos.2. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 174-5; plan and photos.3· V. Guerin,judee) III (1869), 28.4· SWP, II (1882). 294,323.5. A. M. Schneider, OChr., 1933, 158-9; and plan.6. Baldi, 284.7. Abel, II, 339·

30. NORTH CHURCH (211)

C. There is a mosaic from a Byzantine church. This fact has been mentioned by the AscensionistFathers, by F. M. Abel and D. Baldi. B. Bagatti headed a survey on behalf of the SBF in 1970 but didnot manage to find anything.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Baldi, 284.2. B. Bagatti, TS, XLVII (1971),254 and bibliography.

31. jUWAR EL-QA~R (212)

Map ref. 171.114.

Judaean Hills, south-east ofTeko'a.

Surveyed by M. Kochavi on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.

B. CHAPEL (plan on p. 228).

C. A small church with only one hall \vith especially thick walls. Built of dressed stones in tworows, between which was fill. The great extent of preservation of the east wall may be seen up to fourcourses in the east of the apse. Its foundations cut an earlier building. (According to the publisheddraft, the entrance of the church is not marked. Thus the west wall is not built at a right angle to thenorthern and southern walls.)

LEVANT

o 5~"'. -----------

D. Length: 15 m.; width: 10 m. The proportion between the width and the length is 1 : 15.

E. Internal.L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 48 and plan.

32. KEFARJATA (213)

Map ref. 160.245.

Western Galilee.Excavated by Fanny Vito on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1972.

B. CHAPEL.

C. The chapel was found on the site by accident during construction work so it was impossible toexcavate it in its entirety. The walls were preserved to a height of only one course. The church has ahall floored with a coloured mosaic. The walls of the apse were not preserved. The floor of the apseis 10 em. higher than the floor of the hall and is floored with a white mosaic. On the floor of thechurch were architectural remains of the church as well as broken tiles. The church was destroyed byfire, probably at the end of the sixth century.D. The length of the hall is approximately 7 m. (probably without the apse). The width was notmentioned by the investigator.E. No mention was made of whether the apse is internal or external.F. In the north, the church is connected to other structures. In the south, remains of a wall werefound which surrounded the entire set of structures.K. In the hall, a coloured mosaic decorated with geometrical patterns.L. Byzantine (perhaps from the fifth century on the basis of pottery and glass fragmentsdiscovered) .

Bibl. :1. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 45 (1973), 10.

SUPPLEMENTUM-CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHE~ IN THE HOLY LAND 229

KEFAR NAlfUMSee CAPERNAUM (No. 10/191).

33-34. KllASFIN:KllISFIN(214-215)33(214):

Map ref. 226.250.

Golan Heights.Excavated by M. Ben-Ari, p. Urman and S. Bar-Lev on behalf of the Israel Department ofAntiquities and Museums in 1972.

B. BASILICA.

C. A basilica with three external apses. The central and southern apses, a choir, and the beginningof two rows of columns were visible. There is also a part of the chancel. There is a mosaic floorbetween the columns in the nave and in the southern aisle. The floor of the southern aisle wasuncovered along its entire width and approximately 7 m. of its length. Close to the church, twoGreek inscriptions were discovered on lintels. Three stages of construction were discovered in thechurch as well as repairs.E. External.F. Rooms in the southern part.J. In the middle of the mosaic floor of the southern aisle, within a rhombus is a dedicatoryinscription in Greek, seven lines long, in which the name Georgius is mentioned.K. A multi -coloured mosaic in the southern aisle, adorned with rhombuses in which there arebirds, flowers, and fruit. The birds were defaced by iconoclasts.

L. Byzantine.Bibl. :1. Encyclopaedia (English), 458-9'2. Hadashol Archaeologiol, 25 (1973),2.

34 (215):

Excavated by S. Bar-Lev on behalf of the Staff Officer for Archaeology of the Golan Heights in 1975.

The church is located approximatley 200 m. east of the church which was partially uncovered in1972.

B. It is not known whether this is a CHAPEL or a BASILICA.

C. Two mosaic floors of the church were discovered, one on top of the other. There were probablytwo construction levels in the church or at least, repairs. Test excavations were also carried out.Stone slabs served as the base course of the upper mosaic floor.J. A five-line inscription in Greek. This is a dedicatory inscription which mentions the names ofthose who donated it in memory of their father. The structure is called "The House of God'sHoliness", and the name of the llegoumenos and the date are mentioned: "The month of July,Indiction VII, the year 697".

K. The upper mosaic floor has been only partially preserved. A bunch of grapes appears within amedallion, around which is a guilloche. In one of the corners is the inscription within a frame.

L. A.D. 618 or A.D. 561, according to the information in the inscription.

LEVANT

Bibl. :1. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 56 (1975),3.

G.eneral Bibliography for both churches:1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 283-4.2. Schumacher) 184-6.

35. KH. ABU RISH (216)

Map ref. 162.107.

Judaean Hills; in the Beit 'Ainun Valley.Surveyed by M. Kochavi on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.

B. Probably a BASILICA.

C. Foundations were preserved under the floor level as well as parts of several columns. Probablya nave and two aisles. The building faces east. The apse is not extant. The entrance is up rock-hewnsteps. Adjacent to the entrance, on the southern side, is a very large cistern.L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), p. 58.

36. KH. fAIN EL KENISEH (217)

Map ref. 160.124.

J udaean Hills, south ofJerusalem.Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1873.

B. CHAPEL.

C. A small chapel built on the northern slope of a wadi. The northern and southern walls remainwith part of the apse. Built of crudely dressed stones reinforced with plaster and gravel in the joints.The apse had a vaulted roof and was covered in plaster. Remains of a window, with another one inthe apse. In the southern wall are two niches with round arches with a keystone. The walls of thechapel are thick.


D. Length: 33 ft. (excluding the apse); width: 18 ft. The dimensions are internal. The diameter ofthe apse is 12 ft., the thickness of the wall 7 ft.

E. External, polygonal.

L. There are no clear data to determine the final chronology of the building. (Byzantine?)

Bibl. :1. SWP, III (1883), 106-7; plan, 106.

37. KH. (AMMUD: KH. UMM EL-(UMDAN (218)

Map ref. 175.259.

Lower Galilee.

B. Bagatti visited the site on behalf of the SBF in 1967.

B. BASILICA, according to Bagatti; CHAPEL according to the description in Reshumoth.C. Bagatti found a new structure built of ancient stones upon the remains of a basilica. In one ofthe rooms he could identify a remnant of the apse of the nave which was built of stones laid in largecourses. A lintel, a small marble column, and two bases which had been re-used were also found, aswell as parts of a mosaic floor. The site was not excavated because of the building which now standsthere.

K. A mosaic with geometrical patterns which form squares and rhombuses with a cross in thecentre.

L. No date was given. Byzantine.

Bib!. :1. B. Bagatti, Villaggi, 189-91; Figs. 146, 147.2. Idem., TS) XLI 1965.3. Reshumoth, §21.

38-39. KH. (AZEZ: KH. (AZIZ: KH. EL- (UZEIZ (219-220)

Map ref. 157.093.

Judaean Hills, approximately 11 km. south of Hebron.

38 (219):Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1874; by A. E. Mader in 1911-14; and byM. Kochavi on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.

B. The character of the building is not mentioned by Conder and Kitchener although it isprobably a church.

C. The building is in the southern part of the site. The team of the SWP found two columns as wellas a threshold which is 2 m. long. On it is a relief of a Maltese cross. The intercolumniation is 6 ft.V. Guerin and M. Kochavi do not mention a church on the site.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. SWP, III (1883), 350.2. Mader, Altchr. Bas.} 213-15.3· Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 75.4· V. Guerin,judee, III (186g), 204-5.

LEVANT

39 (220):

Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1874.

B. CHAPEL (according to the surveyors).

C. The site is west of the church No. 38/219. This is a small chapel with six columns on each wall.The intercolumniation is 7 ft.. 9 in. from north-to south and 6 ft. 6 in. from west to east.

D. The external dimensions are: length 20 ft.; width 10 ft.

L. Byzantine.

Bib!. :1. SWP, III (1883), 350.

KH. (AZlZSee KH. 'AZEZ (Nos. 38-391219-220).

40. KH. BElT SAKARlYE (221)

Map ref. 161.118.

Judaean Hills.


B. Not given.

C. The mosque is probably built upon remains of the church. In the court, fragments. of columnsand capitals as well as marble stones from the chancel were found.

K. Basketlike capitals.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 44.2. SWP, III (1883),108.3· V. Guerin,judee, III (1869), 316.

KH. EL-(AWJA ET-TAHTASee KH. UM-ZAKUM (No. 5°1231).

41. KH. ELBlYAR (222)

Map ref. 169.137.

Judaean Hills.

Excavated by M.J. Lagrange in 1894.

B. Probably a CHAPEL.

C. The west wall and the corners facing east were discovered, as well as one of the walls continuousfrom west to east. In the east remains of an apse are discernible. Many parts of a mosaic are scatteredthroughout the area.

D. Width: 10 m.; length: 20 m. Lagrange points out that these are the proportions of theByzantine churches.

E. Not given.

K. Parts of a mosaic near the apse.

L. Byzantine.


Bibl.:1. M.J. Lagrange, RB, 1894,45°.2. M. Avi-Yonah, QDAP, III (1934),26.

42. KH. EL-BUR]: BUR] EL-LISANEH (223)

Map ref. 174.156.Samarian Hills.Surveyed by Z. Kallai on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.C. At the summit of the tell, a structure of ashlar that was preserved to the height of the lintels ofits entrances. Adjacent to it are columns, drums of columns, a decorated lintel, and a capital onwhich there is a cross. On this basis, the surveyor concludes that this is a church. (No details werecited in connection with the type of structure or its measurements. This is a rectangular structureorientated west-east, with one hall. The entrance is one opening on the west side. The east wall isstraight and has no sign of an apse. Quite thick walls in proportion to the size of the structure.)

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M.Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 171; plans and photos.

KH. EL- {UZEIZSee KH. 'AZEZ (nos. 38-39/219-220).

43. KH. ES-SAMRA (224)

Map ref. 195.145.South]ordan Valley.

Excavated by N. Makhouly on behalf of the Department of Antiquities of the MandatoryGovernment in 1944 and 1946.B. BASILICA.

II

II

II

o!w+

•

234 LEVANT

C. Only the basilica foundations were found; two rows of columns (4 to a row) have been foundin situ. Remains of a chancel contained solely within the nave (the grooves into which the chancel wasfitted were found during excavation), a bema raised one step above the nave and a reliquary in itsarea. The east end of the basilica has not survived.K. Remains of coloured mosaic pavement.L. Byzantine.

Bib!. :The plan of the church is in the file of the archives of Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem (Israel

Department of Antiquities and Museums).

44. KH. ET-TELL (225)

Map ref. 174.158.

Samarian Hills.Surveyed by Z. Kallai on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.

C. On the eastern slope of the tell is a wall of large dressed stones. Adjacent to it are a largenumber of building stones, three column bases, a capital, drums of capitals, probably remains of achurch.L. Byzantine.


45. KH. ET-TINA (226)

Map ref. 172. 11 1.

Hebron Hills; south-east ofTeko'a.First surveyed by B. Bagatti and V. Corbo on behalf of the SBF in 1946, and again by Corbo, Bagattiand S. Loffreda in 1964.

A. The church has been identified with the Laura Nuova Church which was founded by the monkswho rebelled and left Mar Saba in 5°7 ; the site is mentioned by Cyrillus of Scythopolis.B. CHAPEL.

IIII,I•III.II

o t, , s,


C. This is a small chapel carved out of a large assembly hall. It is built in the northern part of themonastery. According to the plan, three columns are visible on the north side and they separated itfrom a long and narrow hall. There was probably a chancel along the entire width of the chapel,attached to the easternmost column.D. The proportion of the internal measurements is a little more than 1 : 2.

E. Internal.F. Monastery; guest-house.1. The monks who left the Mar Saba Monastery.L. A.D. 507 according to the historical information (PC, 86/2, Paris 1865, col. 2773).

Bib!. :1. Bagatti, Eglise, 72,9°,269; Plan-fig. 164.2. Idem., TS, XXXVIII (1962),1°9-13 and photos; Plan-fig. 110.

46. KH. HAIYAN: (AI (227)

Map ref. 175.145.

In the northern part ofthejudaean Hills, east of 'Ai (ET-TELL).Excavated by J .A. Callaway on behalf of the American Schools of Oriental Research in 1969.

B. The character of the building is not mentioned.C. An apse was discovered, belonging to a church upon which a Weli (Sheikh's tomb) was built. Inthe apse, the floor is white mosaic.F. Connected with other structures: houses, a stable, and a wine press. This was probably amonastery that was built in the fifth century and was restored in the sixth century.K. Mosaic.L. Fifth century (restored in the sixth century).

Bibl.:1. RB (77), 197°,393-4.2. IE], 19 (1969),239 (communicated by J. A. Callaway).3. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 31-2 (1969), 17.

47. KH. KHUDRIYA ((AI) (228)

Map ref. 177.146.

In the northern part ofthejudaean Hills, east of 'Ai (ET-TELL).Excavated by J. A. Callaway on behalf of the American Schools of Oriental Research in the years1966, 1968-9.

B. The character of the building is not mentioned by the excavator.C. A prayer hall and parts of columns were found. The hall has a mosaic floor.F. A baptismal font having a mosaic floor with geometrical patterns. There are additional rooms.The church was linked to a monastery and industrial structures.K. Mosaic.

L. Probably from the beginning of the fifth century.

LEVANT

Bibl. :1. J. A. Callaway, BASOR 198,197°,10.2. Idem., BASOR, 196,1968,4.3. RB (1968),247, PI. XXVb (communicated by K. Schoonover).4. RB (1969), 423-6.5. A. Biran, eN!, xx, 1969, 46.6. V. Guerin,judee} III (1869),58.

48. KH. MARJAME (229)

Map ref. 181.155.

Samarian Hills.

Excavated by Z. Kallai on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1967-8.

B. There is no mention of whether this is a BASILICA or a CHAPEL.

C. A church in which there were remains of a coloured mosaic floor made of tiny stones. Thechurch was restored in the Crusader period.

D. The dimensions: width 10· 5 m.; length 14 m.

E. Not mentioned.

F. Apoolofwater.

K. Coloured mosaic.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 172-3.

49. KH. RABAT MAZNA((230)

Map ref. 167.137.

]udaean Hills, Nebi Samwil region.

Surveyed by V. Tsaferis on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1971.

B. Remains of a church, part of which is hewn from rock and part of which was built. Manymosaics were found. The surveyor does not describe the character of the church or its dimensions.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Hadashol Archaeologiol, 38 (197 1),21.

KH. UMM EL-(UMDANSee KH. 'AMMUD (No. 37/218).

50. KH. UMM-ZAKUM: KH. EL-(AWJA ET-TAHTA (231)

Map ref. 194.149.

] udaean Desert east of] ericho.

Discovered in 1935. Partially excavated by Bazikah Shantour on behalf of the Staff Officer forArchaeology in]udea and Samaria in 1972.


B. CHAPEL.

o f

C. The chapel was discovered by accident in the course of construction work. It faces east,deviating slightly northward. It has an apse, probably internal. The south-western corner of thewalls and the floor are not preserved, but the shape of the chapel may be reconstructed on the basisof remains of the walls and the mosaic floor. Behind the apse was a room whose entrance wasprobably from the east. This was probably the diaconicon. In the south-eastern corner, adjacent tothe apse, a grave was dug into the floor.E. Probably internal.F. The chapel is part of a complex of buildings surrounded by a fence and including a system ofcanals for supplying water.K. A mosaic floor decorated with geometrical patterns.L. Fifth-sixth centuries, according to the ceramics discovered.

Bibl. :1. H adashot A rchaeologiot, 39 (197 1), 23.2. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 110.

3. M. Avi-Yonah, QDAP, IV (1935),19°.

51. KH. (UNAB EL-KABIR: (ANAB (232)

Map ref. 143.089.

Judaean Hills. The church is located in the eastern ruin.Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener in 1874, and by M. Kochavi on behalf of the ArchaeologicalSurvey of Israel in 1967-8.

B. BASILICA (plan on p. 238).

C. When Kochavi visited the site, only the foundations of the eastern and southern walls and theapse remained. There is also the atrium cistern and next to it on the north side, a cruciform

LEVANT

r-----------

__ ..J _

o •. 10,....

baptismal font. Conder and Kitchener still saw signs of a church door in the western wall oppositethe apse. The basilica was divided into three parts by two rows of columns with three columns ineach, of which two bases were still in situ and one c;olumn was still standing. The southern wall ispreserved to a height of two courses.D. The proportions appear in the drafts of Conder and Kitchener and of Kochavi. They vary.According to Kochavi's draft, the church was square (its length without an apse and its width are thesame). According to Conder and Kitchener's draft there is a deviation to the south and the churchwas rectangular.E. External; semi -circular.L. Byzantine: Conder and Kitchener mention only that it predates the Crusader period.

Bibl. :1. SWP, III (1883), 393 and plan.2. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 78 and plan.3· v. Guerin,Judee~ III (1869),365.

KHISFINSee KHASFIN (Nos. 33-34/214-215).

52. KURSI (233)

Map ref. 210.248.

On the north-eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.Excavated by V. Tsaferis and Dan Urman on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities andMuseums in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

B. BASILICA (plan on p. 239)

C. The church is part of a large complex surrounded by a wall with the church in the centre of thearea. Composed of a nave and two aisles which are separated from each other by two rows ofcolumns with six columns each. In the east an apse which is deeper than a semi-circle, between therooms of the pastophoria. In the apse is a bench of the synthronos and in front of it is a bemaelevated two steps above the floor of the hall. It is bounded on the sides by a chancel. The two roomsof the pastophoria are wider than the aisles and occupy almost the entire width of the roomsannexed on the south and north of the aisles. The diaconicon which is on the south was laterconverted to a baptismal room into which an oval baptismal font was moved. In the south and northare two chapels, the inner one containing an internal apse and a chancel in front of the bema. They


are entered from the west. There were also auxiliary rooms. The entrances to the basilica are fromthe west in the centre of the nave and there was probably an entrance via the northern aisle as well asentrances from the north and the south. The entrance to the church was from the west via a smallforecourt, afterwards via a peristyle atrium whose eastern part served as a narthex. Under the atriumwas a square, vaulted cistern "vith two openings at the sides of the atrium. At a later stage theportico of the atrium was closed up and divided into rooms. Under one of the chapels a cryptcontaining skeletons was discovered. The apse was floored with marble slabs. The nave, aisles,the two rooms of the pastophoria, two chapels, and the narthex were floored with a mosaic ofgeometrical patterns. Only parts of the mosaic in the narthex and nave remain. In the mosaic ofthe aisles, inside rhombuses, there were plant or animal patterns. Most of the animal and birdpatterns were systematically destroyed after the church ,vent out of use in the eighth century.E. Internal.F. A fortified rural settlement or fortified semi-urban settlement (in Ovadiah's opinion).G. According to an early Christian tradition, in memory of the miracle of the Gadarene swine(Luke 8 :32-7; Matt. 8 :23-34; Mark 5: 1-2 d, and the site "vasidentified by them as Gergesa.J. In the entrance to the baptismal room is a Greek inscription from 585 which tells that thephotisterium (=baptisterium) has been paved in the time of Emperor Mauricius and thehegoumenos of the monastery, Stephanus. From this inscription we may conclude that liturgicalchanges were made in the church.K. Corinthian Capitals. A mosaic with geometric patterns and plants, as well as animal figures.L. The middle of the fifth century, on the basis of the ceramics. The church was damaged in 612 inthe Persian invasion. Some time later it was renovated and some changes were made. At thebeginning of the eighth century, it was destroyed by a fire and abandoned. The Arabs employed thestructures for their own needs and purposely mutilated the mosaic. The Church of Kursi ismentioned in the writings of Cyrillus of Scythopolis who tells that St. Saba visited the church ofKursa and prayed there at the end of the fifth century.

LEVANT

Bibl. :1. V. Tsaferis and D. Urman, Q,admoniot, VI (1973), 62-4; plan on 63; photos.2. Encyclopaedia (in English), 459-60.3. J. B. Livia, BTS, no. 152 (1973),7-16; photos.4· V. Tsaferis, IE], 22 (1972),176-7.5. B. Bagatti, Villaggi, 76-9; photos.6. Idem., TS, XLVI (1970), 420-4; photos.7· Hadashot Archaeologiot, 34-5 (1970),5.8. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 36 (1970), 1-3.9· Hadashot Archaeologiot, 39 (1971),9·

10. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 41-2 (1972), 7.11. H adashot A rchaeologiot, 46 (1973), 1.12. RB, XXIX (197 2), 410.13. D. Urman, eNI, XXII, 1971, 72-6.14· D. Baldi, Enchiridion nos. 471, 472, 477, 478.15. A. Ovadiah, PEQ,(1977), 123-4·

KUSR EL-YEHUnSee QASR EL-YAHUD (No. 63/244).

MAGNA LAURASee MAR SABA (Nos. 53-55/234-236).

53/55. MAR SABA: MAGNA LAURA: MAR SABAS (234-236)

Map ref. 181.123.

Judaean Desert, south-east of Bethlehem in the Kidron Valley.

Surveyed by V. Guerin in 1869, and Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1873 and 1882.

Several churches in the area of the monastery which is surrounded by a wall.

53 (234):

Church aA. Named after St. Nicholas.

B. CHAPEL.

o s~'-.wI


C. A small church, the major part of which is hewn from the rock. Many skulls were preserved ofmonks who had been slaughtered in various periods, and principally during the Persian invasion in614. It is thought to be the first church on the site, founded and built by Mar Saba. A broad roomwith an apse facing north-east. According to Chitty, this was a "God-built church" (theoktistos)which was dedicated on December 12, 490. Following a dream of Mar Saba, the next morning hefound a cave with a natural apse on the eastern side and on the north side, a room for a sacristy.

E. Internal.

F. Monastery (laura).

L. A.D. 483.

54 (235):

Church bA. Dedicated to the virgin "Theotokos".

B. CHAPEL.

C. East of the church-cave is a monastery-church; rectangular. Later narthex built on the north sothat it is better localized. The interior is divided by five bays. Wall paintings.

D. Guerin measured it as 14 paces wide, 42 paces long; 30 paces wide and 70 paces long accordingto Conder.

E. External, circular.

F. Monastery (laura).

H. Dedicated to the Virgin.

I. Two architects, Theodoulas and Gelasius, during the lifetime of Mar Saba.

K. Wall paintings.

L. Consecrated on July 1, 501 by Elias, the Patriarch of Jerusalem; destroyed in 614 and restoredin the seventeenth century; still in use.

55 (236):

Church cA. Named after Peter and Paul.

B. CHAPEL. Some maintain that it was Saba's personal chapel.

C. No details were given.

Summary:

The structures were not excavated nor were they thoroughly studied. Guerin thinks that all threechurches were built in the fifth century. Cyrillus of Scythopolis lived here and wrote the biography ofSaba.

Bibl. :1. v. Guerin,judee) III (1869), 92-101.2. D.]. Chitty, The Desert a City (Oxford, 1966), 106-10, figs. 7, 14, 16, 17.3. Baldi, 241.

4. SWP, III (1883), 219-20.5· Bagatti,Archeologia, 75-6; Plan-pI. 23.6. Vilnay, 279-81.

7· Hoade,394-6.

LEVANT

8. S. Mann, CN!, vol. XX (1969),64-8.9. Bagatti, Eglise, 83·

10. Har-El,210-13.11. Meinardus, OChr. (1966), 46.

MARSABASSee MAR SABA(Nos. 53-551234-236).

56. MATTA"(237)

Map ref. 156.124.

Judaean Hills.Excavated by S. Gudovitz on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1968.

B. CHAPEL.

.-.--------- ....•_--.

\I

i

liiiii

I. 0~1II:::=::illlIIIIIII::=:=::tI •••• s ,,~-----

c. At the time that the road was paved, the southern part of the building and its mosaic floor weredestroyed. Among the remains are: the entire length of the northern wall, a part of the western wallas well as almost half of the projecting rectangular apse; a northern part of the chancel and a step infront of it. The chancel divides the entire width of the chapel. The chapel has two entrances: onefrom the north-west, from an adjoining structure, and the other, the main entrance from the west,

SUPPL"EMENTUM-CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN THE HOLY LAND 243

from the narthex. The northern opening has a threshold elevated approximately 20 cm. above themosaic floor of the hall. The chapel was floored with a mosaic which enables us to reconstruct theshape and dimensions of the missing walls. The walls were preserved in part to a height of 1 m. Theyare plastered with white plaster which probably belonged to the upper parts of the main hall andwere not found in situ. West of the outer wall, a covered channel brought water to the cistern in thesouth-west. In the narthex which is continuous opposite the northern hall, are five steps which werebuilt in two different stages of construction. It is not clear whether they led to a second storey or torooms from the north. The entrance to the narthex is not on one axis with the entrance to thechapel. The chapel was probably roofed with a gabled roof made of wooden timbers covered withclay tiles. Many tile fragments were found in the excavations.E. External-rectangularK. Part of a chancel decorated with a Greek cross. On the chapel mosaic, a field of roundmedallions made of vine-trellis in which there are various animals and birds. East of the chancel thefield is different, decorated with a cross in the apse. Walls covered with plaster, probably coloured inthe upper part.L. Probably mid-sixth century, according to the shape of the chancel.Bibl. :1. A. Ovadiah, Ruth Ovadiah, S. Gudovitz, RB (1976), 421-31, PI. XXXVIII-XLI; plan on 422.

MENSA CHRISTISee 'EIN HA-SHIV'AH (No. 16/197).

57. MODI7N(238)

Map ref. 149.148.

Judean Hills.

Discovered in 1964. Excavated by E. Eisenberg on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities andMuseums in 1976.

B. CHAPEL.

C. The church building is situated in the northern wing of the complex.D. Measurements: 10'50 m. x 6 m.F. Monastery.K. A coloured mosaic floor with geometric and floral patterns, a bird and a cross within a circle.Architectural fragments.L. Probably sixth century (according to the style of the mosaic and the pottery finds).Bibl. :1. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 13 (1965), 10-11.2. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 61/2 (1977), 26-7.

MOUNT OF OLIVES: GREEK CHURCHSeeJERUSALEM (No. 23/204).

58. MOUNT OF QUARANTINE: MOUNT OF THE TEMpTATION:JEBEL KURUNTUL (239)

Map ref. 190.142.

244 LEVANT

judean Desert, west of jericho.

Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener on behalf of the PEF in 1873.A. Quarantena (Forty) or The Temptation.

B. Probably CHAPEL.

C. Remains of a monastery-church of which only the apse belongs to the Byzantine church. Thiswas a medieval construction. It is located on the hilltop. Destroyed in the seventh century, probablywith the Persian invasion.

E. Internal.

F. Laura.

G. According to a tradition, this is the place where jesus spent forty days (this is the source of thename). It was here that Satan came to tempt him (Matt. 4: 1-11).

H. Memorial.

K. Byzantine capitals.

L. Probably from the fourth century. St. Chariton founded the laura of Duke in 340.

Bib!. :1. O. Meinardus, LA, XIX (1969),323.2. SWP, III (1883),2°4, plan on 201.3. Hoade,481-3·4. A. Augustinovic, Gerico e dJintorniJ Guida (Gerusalemme, 1951), 128-32; Plate-fig. 41.5. Har-El,252-3'

MOUNT OF THE TEMPTATIONSee MOUNT OF QUARANTINE (No. 58/239).

59. NABLUS:jACOBJS WELL (240)

Map ref. 175.180.

Samarian Hills.

Conder and Kitchener visited the site on behalf of the PEF in 1876; L. H. Vincent surveyed it.

A. jacob's Well.

B. Centralized-cruciform. (plan on p. 245)

S U PP LEM ENTUM-CO RPUS OF TH E BYZANTINE CHURCH ES IN THE HOLY LAND 245

,• MOSAIC I

o,

; r.~) j:.... ,.....: ~

.... .f.•j (;

s ...~.

•

C. Parts of a mosaic were discovered in the north, west, and south of the well in addition to a partof the southern wall of the southern arm and of the western wall of the northern arm. On the basisof these finds and the description of Arculfus (670), a reconstruction was made of the church when ithad four identical arms, with the well at the centre. At the extremity of each arm there was onechurch. The church was destroyed in the tenth century by the Arabs; on the same spot the Crusadersbuilt a new church in 1130 but they mention it as ruined in 1283.

D. Overall length : approximately 30 m.; width of each arm: 9 m.E. There is no apse. The focus of the church is the well in the centre.H. According to the tradition, this is the well which Jacob dug and out of which the GoodSamaritan drew water in order to give it to Jesus to drink.1. In the period of Procopius.J. Stone with a Samaritan inscription which was re-used in the Crusader church. The inscriptionis linked with the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy in which the Ten Commandments appear inthe Samaritan version and which is accepted by the Christians. Pieces of marble \vith inscriptionswhich are difficult to decipher; the name "Anasias" appears and perhaps additional names ofdonors. According to the kind of letters, these are from the sixth century.K. Pieces of mosaic with a geometric pattern in many colours. Columns and remains ofchancel screens decorated \vith garlands from the fourth-sixth centuries. According to thedescription of the Antonius Placentinus (570), there was a chancel around the well.L. Fourth century. The shape of the cross came to symbolize the four corners of the world (Baldi,Enchiridion, 274). In the Madaba Map the church appears as a regular building and not a cruciformone. C. Dickie maintains that Constantine built a church dedicated to a well (of the Woman ofSamarita). A church on the site was mentioned by Paula in 386, and by the Antoninus Placentinusin 570 who tells about the basilica, and by Arculfus in 670.

LEVANT

Bibl. :1. B. Bagatti, LA, XVI (1965-6), 127-64; Plan-fig. 5.2. Idem., Eglise, 43; Plan-fig. 1; 200-2, Fig. 96, Arculfus' Church.3· SWP, III (1883),437.4. C. Dickie, PEFQSt (1908), 248-53 (history of the site).5. A. Mansur, PEFQSt (1910),131-7.6. F.J. Bliss, PEFQSt (1894),108-13.7. L. H. Vincent, RB (I958), 557-61.8. VilnaY,43-4.g. F. M. Abel, RB, 42 (1933),384-402.

10. Baldi, 288-9'11. Idem., Enchiridion, 274.

60. NAHARIYA (241)

Map ref. 160.267.Western Galilee-Acre Coastal Plain.Discovered in 1964. Excavated by G. Edelstein and Claudine Dauphin on behalf of the IsraelDepartment of Antiquities and Museums in 1972 and 1974.A. St. Lazarus.B. BASILICA (see p. 247)C. The church was not discovered in its entirety and its western part is not clear. It has a nave andtwo aisles ending in apses in the east, both of which are elevated by one step above the floor of thehall. The central apse is especially large by contrast with the two on the sides. The separationbetween the nave and the aisles is achieved by two rows of marble columns. Six columns in each rowwere discovered in the eastern part of the church. If the reconstruction of the western part is correct,there were probably eight columns in each row. The walls of the church do not intersect at a rightangle because the eastern side is wider than the western side. The columns supported woodentimbers on which, it seems, there were two galleries whose width was approximately that of theaisles. The roof was made of wood overlaid with tiles. The walls of the structure were built of localstone and were plastered. There were probably windows for there are many fragments of glasstesserae. The mosaic floor was laid upon fill composed of soil, early architectural fragments, andByzantine potsherds. In the three apses is a mosaic in a geometrical pattern; in the centre of the hallis a medallion. A stripe in the pattern of the inhabited scroll decorates the floor along the length ofthe walls and emphasizes the area which is in front of the. middle apse. At a later stage, after themosaic was laid, a part of the nave opposite the apse was walled up with a chancel which is in frontof a kind of narrow corridor (see the church in Shavei-Zion in Stage One, Corpus No. 161a). In thearea closed by the chancel stood two ritual tables of marble, their legs in the shape of a column, andupon one of them a cross was incised. In the two apses on the sides, on the mosaic floor, thereremained signs of a ritual table which stood on the spot. On the floor of the northern apse is a cross.The church was destroyed by a raging fire, probably at the time of the Persian conquest in 614, a fatesimilar to that of the churches in 'Evron and Shavei-Zion; signs of a fire are on the floors.E. The northern apse is external and polygonal. The external walls of the other two apses were notdiscovered, but we may suppose that they had the same shape.F. A north-east room and other structures were not excavated.H. Dedicated to St. Lazarus.


a ao C

oo 0

oI

-s,

o

10, ~.

J. (1) On the chancel screen there is a Greek inscription dedicated to the donors of the chancel,Liontis the priest and the members of his family. (2) On several column capitals the Greek letterslAP appear. Perhaps (in the excavator's opinion) these are the initials of a donor, perhaps ashortening of John the Archbishop who was the Archbishop of Tyre in 555, whose name wasmentioned in the nearby church of Su1:lmata(Corpus No. 170). (3) In the marble of the tables of theapse are remains of a Greek inscription.K. Capitals decorated in patterns from the plant world; decorated marble slabs of a chancel; ontwo of the slabs there is a depiction of a cross flanked by two deer. The whole mosaic floor in thechurch is decorated in a fish-scale pattern. In the centre of the nave is a large round medallion with ageometrical pattern, which gives one a three-dimensional impression. Along the length of the wallsis a wide strip of acanthus leaves which form medallions with· human or animal figures inside. In the

LEVANT

apses, the mosaic pattern is geometrical. Across from the central apse are two peacocks on eitherside of an amphora.

L. There is no precise date. If the hypothesis that the letters lAP refer to the Bishop of Tyre is infact correct, then the church was already standing in 555.

Bibl. :1. G. Edelstein and C. Dauphin, Quadmoniot} VIII, (3~d (1975), uz8-32; photos and plan.2. G. Edelstein, CN!, XXIII (1973),171-2.3. RB, LXXXI (974), 100-102; PI. XIVa.4· Hadashot Archaeologiot, 45 (973), 8.

61. NAZARETH: CHURCH OF ST.JOSEPH (242)

Map ref. 178.234.

Lower Galilee.Excavated by B. Bagatti on behalf of the SBF in 1970.

A. St.Joseph; also called" Chiesa della Nutrizione."B. Probably a BASILICA.

C. In 1893 the Franciscans announced the discovery of remains of a church with three parts: anave and two aisles. In their opinion this was a church from the first centuries, which was renovatedby the Crusaders. Bagatti excavated in the north of the church and outside it, in a place in whichdebris had been thrown when the church was built in 1892. The church, which is supported bybuttresses, has a mosaic floor. It seems that there is evidence for identifying this site with the onedescribed by the pilgrim Arculfus in 670.

G. According to the tradition this is the place where St. Joseph's house stood.K. A Mosaic floor.

L. Byzantine.

Bib!.:1. B. Bagatti, LA, XXI (197 d, 5-32.2. Idem., RB, LXXVIII (197 d, 587.3. Idem., TS, XLVII (197 t), 55-61.

4. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 36 (197°),8.5. Baldi,388.6. RB, 2 (1 893), 24 1.

((NEA JJ

SeeJERUSALEM, NEW CHURCH OF THE THEOTOKOS (No. 24/2°5).

62. NES (AMIM (243)

Map ref. 160.260.

Western Galilee.In a mosaic from a Byzantine church, there is a medallion with several small crosses.

Bibl. :1. CN!, XXIII (1973),238 and photo.


ON THE HILL NEAR ST. ANDREWJS CHURCHSeejERUSALEM (No. 25/206).

PROBATICASeejERUSALEM (No. 26/207).

63. QASR EL-YAHUD: KUSR EL-YEHUD: DER MARJUHANNA (244)

Map ref. 201.138.

Southjordan Valley (not far from thejordan River).Surveyed by Conder and Kitchener in 1873, and by P. Bar-Adon on behalf of the ArchaeologicalSurvey of Israel in 1967-8.A. Named for john the Baptist (Prodromos).B. CHAPEL.

C. What remains of the ancient church today is used as a crypt. Sculptured objects, sections of amosaic, capitals, and marble columns with crosses incised on them also remain. When the team ofthe SWP visited the site, they found a Crusader structure upon the remains of the chapel whosewestern part was destroyed, and for this reason we cannot know its length. The chapel has a barrel-vaulted ceiling built in a simple fashion. Its walls are thick.E. From the plan it is not clear whether it was internal or external because the monastery wallspass over its eastern extremity. The investigators do not mention its character.F. Monastery.G. In memory of john the Baptist who, according to the tradition, baptizedjesus not far from thissite. Another tradition says that the Israelites crossed the jordan opposite the site where the churchwas built, and this is the derivation of the name "Fortress of the jews".K. Ornamented capitals, a mosaic.L. Fourth century. The church was mentioned by Maria Egiziaca who visited it (she died in 421).The monastery was destroyed by an earthquake in 1034 and rebuilt by Manuel Comnenus (1143-80),and was renovated in the nineteenth century by the Greek Orthodox Church.

Bib!. :1. SWP, III (1883), 217 and plan.2. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 116.

3. Baldi, 253.

LEVANT

64-65. RAFID (245-246)

Map ref. 234.262.Golan Heights.64 (245):

Surveyed by C. Epstein on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967 and 1968.

B. CHAPEL.

--- --. --- -- ---------

--_ •. - -- _ •. - _. - - ...- .-..- .... - ---

-------- - -- --_ .... --_ ...---------

I',I

""

----_ ....-- --- ---. ---- -- _ •. -_ •. _-

E

o 1.1 ,._-===- 14..

C. The church is built upon remains of an earlier church (but no date is given). It is an irregularrectangular structure whose eastern part fonns a sort of corridor in front of the apse. Two entranceslead to the building: one from the west and the other from the south. Along the southern wall andthe northern wall, six piers project to support arches for the roof of the building, according to aHauranite roofing method; another pair of piers in the beginning of the arch of the apse. The lengthof the piers is not identical. The walls of the building are especially thick.E. External; semi-circular.L. Byzantine (?).


Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 273-4 and plan.

65 (246):

Surveyed by G. Schumacher in 1888.

B. Probably a CHAPEL.

C. A structure with an apse, probably a church in the opinion of Schumacher. The orientation iswest-east. Attached to the chapel are rooms whose nature is not mentioned. The entrance to thechapel was through one opening in the west. The construction is partly dressed stones, partly uncutstones without cement. In the rubble there are keystones and other stones which, according to theirshape, prove that the apse ended in a conch.

E. External, semi-circular.

F. Attached structures.

L. Byzantine (?).

Bibl. :1. Schumacher~ 288; Plan-fig. 115.

2. Idem., ZDP~ (I8go), 71.

66. RAMA (249)

Map ref. 184.260.

Upper Galilee.

Excavated by V. Tsaferis and Talia Shai on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities andMuseums in 1972.

B. The type of structure is not given.

C. Remains of the church; very large column bases and a mosaic floor.

K. A mosaic floor decorated with animal figures.

L. Sixth century.

Bibl. :1. H adashot Archaeologiot, 44 (1 9 72), 7.

252 LEVANT

67. RAMSANIYYE (248)

Map ref. 225.269.

Golan Heights.

Surveyed by G. Schumacher in 1888 and by A. Guttman and C. Epstein on behalf of theArchaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.

B. CHAPEL.

C. An irregular rectangular structure with an apse in the east and two entrances: one in thewestern wall, the other in the southern wall adjoining the apse. In both the southern and thenorthern walls, three piers project for the support of the arches for the roofing-a Hauraniteconstruction. The piers have simple capitals. The external diameter of the apse is that of the internalwidth of the building. The building is no,v residential.

E. External; semi-circular.

K. Capitals.

L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 267; plan and section.2. Schumacher~ 231-5.

68. RUJM BARAKAT (249)

Map ref. 162.091.

Judaean Hills, south of EI-Karmil (el-Kurmul).


B. BASILICA.

C. Remains of the structure, columns still standing or fallen in their place.


F. Annexed buildings to the west side; plastered pools and a large square water cistern.L. Byzantine.

Bib!. :1. Archaeological Survey, M. Kochavi and Ruth Ovadiah (eds.), 76.

ST. ANNASeeJERUSALEM (No. 27/208).

69. ST. ARCADIOS (250)

Map ref. 181.123.

Judean Desert in environs of Mar Saba, in Wadi an-Neir. O. Meinardus surveyed the site in 1964.

A. St. Arcadios.B. CHAPEL.

o •

C. Located in a cave dug from the rock on the mountain-side. The chapel is located between tworooms and separated from them by built-up walls approximately 80 em. thick. The entrance to thechapel is from the west. On the north-east side are three niches whose upper portion is still extant.In front of the niches a grave was excavated. The chapel was used for ritual worship also in laterperiods from which remains of paintings of saints and angels on the walls and ceiling are extant. Thepaintings are from the eleventh-twelfth centuries and from the nineteenth century.E. Three internal niches.H. Dedicated to St. Arcadios.L. Probably fifth century, the period of the lifetime of Arcadios.

Bibl. :1. O. Meinardus, LA, XVI (1965-6), 350-6; plan 353; photos 35°,355.2. A. E. Mader, OChr., XXXIV (1937),55,211.

ST. JOSEPHSee NAZARETH (No. 61/242).

ST. PETER IN GALLICANTUSeeJERUSALEM (No. 28/209).

254 LEVANT

70. ST. SOPHIA (IN WADI AN-NAR) (251)

Map ref. 181.123.

Judaean Desert, not far from Mar Saba.Surveyed by O. Meinardus (1964?).A. St. Sophia, mother of Mar Saba.B. CHAPEL

C. In front of the church is a closed courtyard partially floored with mosaic. From the courtyardon the northern side, fifteen steps lead to the church and to the inner courtyard which has acoloured mosaic. To the north of the inner courtyard, four steps lead to the chapel-a room with aroof in the shape of a barrel vault. There are three windows in the room, two facing east, one south.In the east, the apse is 0'45 m. high, with a diameter at the base of 0·80 m. There is no iconostasis inthe church.D. External dimensions: width 4.80 m.; length 10'50 m. The inner courtyard is 6'50 m. north-south, 5m. east-west. The chapel is 2 m. wide and 4 m. long.E. Probably internal.G. St. Sophia, whose body was brought to this church which was built in her name (according toone of the traditions and the inscription on one of the walls).H. Dedicated to St. Sophia.1. The monks from Mar Saba.J. On the western edge of the southern wall is a nine-line inscription in Greek which praisesSophia, the mother of Mar Saba who became a saint and whose remains were brought to the placewhere the fathers built the chapel in her name in 657.K. A monochrome mosaic in the outer courtyard; in the inner courtyard, a coloured mosaic withgeometrical patterns. In the chapel, remains of wall paintings. Late Byzantine period and perhapseven Crusader.

L. A.D. ~57.

Bibl. :1. O. Meinardus,LA, XVI (1965-6),342-7; photos on 343,348.2. Har-El, 214-15.

3. E. Mader, OcChr, XXXIX (1937), 211.

SS.JOHN AND GEORGE OF CHOZIBASee DEIR WADI EL-QILT (No. 14/195).

SALTUS DOMINISeeJEBEL EL-QAFSE (No. 22/203).

71. SHEIKH QATRA W ANl (252)Map ref. 168.155.

SUPPLEMENTUM-CORPUS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES IN TH.E HOLY LAND 255

In the Hills of Ephraim, west of Ramleh.

The site was surveyed by R. deVaux on behalf of t~e French School of Archaeology, Jerusalem, in1946 and by Z. Kallai on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1967-8.

B. BASILICA.

C. It has two rows of columns running east-west. In the southern row, six columns are preservedin situ. In the northern part there is late masonry which distorts the plan of the building. Thesouthern wall of the church has disappeared and thus we cannot see the apse. The fac;ade in the westand a part of the north-west corner were preserved and incorporated into the tomb of SheikhQatrawan'i.

D. The distance between the two rows of columns is 12 m., and between each column, 4 m.

F. Probably a monastery.

L. Byzantine (?).


2. R. deVaux, RB, 53 (1946),264.3. Baldi, 2 8 1.

72-73. TAMRA (253-254)

Map ref. 188.226.

Region of the Lower Eastern Galilee.

Surveyed by V.Guerin, as well as by B. Bagattiin 1965. V. Guerin found remains of two churches. Atthe time ofBagatti's visit, the area was under cultivation.

72 (253):

B. BASILICA.

C. Remains of a small church divided into three parts, orientated west-east. On the site were partsof columns.

L. Byzantine (?).

73 (254):

B. The character of the structure is not mentioned.

C. Remains of a church almost entirely destroyed, with a mosaic floor, some of whose tesseraewere scattered on the ground. Its site is the highest part o~ the town.

K. Mosaic.

L. Byzantine (?).

Bibl.:1. V. Guerin, Galilee} 1(1880),124-5.2. NReshumothJJ

, §45.3. Bagatti, Villaggi, 272.

LEVANT

74· TEKO(A (255)

Map ref. 170.115.

SouthernJudaea, approximately 4 km. south of Herodion.

Surveyed by J. Escobar on behalf of the SBF in 1965 (?).

A. St. Nicholas.

B. BASILICA.

1 0 0

Q Q

- CI c

0 c-- -

oI

S!

10~!

c. A church with three parts, a nave and two aisles. The separation: between them is made by tworows of four columns and two engaged pillars in each one which are attached to the beginning of theapse as well as on the western wall. A part of the apse, parts of the southern and western walls, oneentrance in situ in the southern wall, two column bases. The apse is preserved to a height of threecourses. It is constructed of limestone. In the entrance in the southern wall is a well-workedthreshold in which there is a socket for the door hinge. According to the reconstruction, there doesnot seem to have been another entrance in the west, for attached to the western wall are remains ofvarious rooms. The investigator explains that the door was placed in the south in order to avoid astrong draught.

E. External, rectangular.

F. Probably a monastery.

H. Dedicated to St. Nicholas.

K. Parts of a mosaic floor; bases of columns. Not far away is a decorated baptismal font.

L. Byzantine.


Bibl. :1. J. Escobar, Tecoa (jerusalem, 1976).2. Idem., LA, XXVI (1976), 5-19; Plan-fig. 7; PIs. 2-10.3. V. Guerin,Judee~ III (1869),141.

TEL CISONSee TEL KISON (No. 751256).

75. TEL KISON: TELL KEISAN: TEL CISON (256)Map ref. 164.253.

Acre Coastal Plain.Excavated by deVaux and P. Benoit on behalf of the French School of Archaeology in Jerusalem,1971-2, 1975·

B. BASILICA.

o 5'1\.. --'

C. The basilica is in the eastern part of the tel and has a nave, two aisles, apse, and narthex. Thedestruction is complete and only the foundations of the building remain. In the nave, on the westside, is a grave under the ground level. It probably belongs to the fourth century B.C. The Byzantinechurch seems to have been built upon remains of an early public structure, perhaps a Persianfortress. A thick wall was discovered with piers which support the nave from the south. In the easternpart of the nave is a wall along the width of the building. This wall separates the choir. In the churchthere were two building stages which are marked by two separate chance~s. The first chancel was at

LEVANT

the western extremity of the apse. In the second stage, a chancel was built farther west and the widthof the whole nave. It was built on a higher level than the preceding one. The excavators think thatthe change resulted from the changes in the liturgy in the time of justin II (565-578).

E. External, square.F. Rooms and halls on the south side.K. Numerous tesserae in a variety of colours were scattered over the area. There was probably amosaic floor. .

L. In the opinion of the excavators, it. was built in the second half of the sixth century or thebeginning of the seventh, based on the potsherds. It stood for only a short time. Bagatti thinks thatthe coin of justin II from the year 576 indicates the destruction date of the church because in 572justin began his persecution of the Monophysites.

Bib!. :1. ]. Prignaud, RB, LXXIX (1972), 227-8; Plan-pI. III.2. Idem., IE], 22 (1972),177-8.3. V. Tsaferis, CNI, XXIV (1974) 176.4. Hadashot Archaeologiot, 40 (1971),6.5. HadashotArchaeologiot, 44 (1972),8.6. M.]. Briend, IE], 1975,258-9.7. Bagatti, Villaggi, 17°-1 ;

TELL EL- (AKABASee CYPROS (No. 11/192).

76. TELL ER-RAS (257)

Mapref. 175.178.

Samarian Hills on the northern ridge of Mt. Gerizim south of Nablus.Excavated by R. j. Bull on behalf of the joint American-British Expedition in 1968.

B. CHAPEL. Its parts are not mentioned.L. Sixth century.

Bib!. :1. E. F. Campbell, IE], 18 (1968),192-3.2. H adashot Archaeologiot, 27 (1968), 22.

3. A. Biran, CNI, XX (1969),44.

TELLKEISANSee TEL KISON (No. 75/256).

77. ZABABDE:ZABIDIA (258)

Map ref. 181.199.

Samarian Hills, south of j enin.B. Bagatti visited the site on behalf of the SBF in the years 1953 and 1969.


B. BASILICA.

C. A church with three parts, according to remains of the mosaic floor; portions of columns andcapitals found in situ.E. Not given.

K. A multicoloured mosaic with geometric decorations; capitals, some of which are in a classicalstyle with acanthus, another with thick leaves.

L. Sixth century, based upon the geometrical patterns of the mosaic.

Bibl. :1. Bagatti, Villaggi, 313-15; photos.2. Idem., TS, XLVI (1970), 160-7; photos.3. M. Avi-Yonah, QDAP, III (1934),46.

ZABIDIASee ZABABDE (No. 77/258).

78-79' ZARAFEND (259-260)Map ref. 144.228.

Northern Coastal Plain, area of Athlit.

78 (259): NORTH CHURCHExcavated by A. Siegelman on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums in 1967,surveyed by Y. 'Olami on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1969.

B. CHAPEL.

E

J""t::===:=::!:::==t===::::t'

260 LEVANT

C. A small church contaInIng an apse and a mosaic floor with an inscription. The apse isshallow-less than a semi-circle. The site is located north-west of Kh. Zarafend and at somedistance from the mosque. In its vicinity is a sacred tree and underneath it is a Moslem 'tomb.

E. External, circular.

J. In the mosaic floor is a dedicatory inscription in Greek in which the name "Yochanan" ISmentioned.

K. The mosaic floor has geometrical patterns.

L. Byzantine.

Bib!. :1. File of the archives of The Association of the Archaeological Survey of Israel (by courtesy of Mr. Y. 'Olami,

Haifa).

79 (260): SOUTH CHURCH

Surveyed by Y. 'Clami on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel in 1969.

B. CHAPEL.

E

o, I~.

C. The chap.el is built upon a rocky slope south-west of the ruin and at a distance ofapproximately 120 m. from the mosque. The quarried foundations of the walls and the apse which is


constructed from dressed stones. In the west, two hewn steps lead to the narthex which is in front ofthe church. A superficial examination did not turn up a mosaic floor, but excavations might revealparts of it. South of the church and attached to it is a hewn surface of a building.E. External, semi-circular.F. At some distance, on the south -east side, there are burial caves.L. Byzantine.

Bibl. :1. File of the archives of The Association of the Archaeological Survey of Israel (by courtesy of Mr. Y. '0 lami,

Haifa).

Documents

Supplementum to the Corpus of the Byzantine Churches in the Holy Land Part I: Newly Discovered Churches