Ḥorvat Beth Loya - Monastery (?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ḥorvat Beth Loya

Identification:

Gutfeld and Kalman had suggested that this is the village of Besandouke / Beth Zedek (Flavius Josephus, War III, 22-28), from which Epiphanius, the future bishop of Salamis originated. According to TIR (p. 87), Besandouke is to be identified, perhaps, with Deir Sa'ad (139109).

Monastery name:

Monastery (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Village

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

193,233.00

607,964.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

143,229.00

107,963.00

Geographical region:

Shephelah

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Eleutheropolis

Topographical location:

Hill

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 6 km (Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis)

Distance from nearest settlement:

100m from the village and ca. 6 km (Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 6 km east of the ancient road that connected the southern coast with Jerusalem

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Patrich and Tsafrir	1983, 1986

Bibliograpy:

Patrich, J. and Tsafrir, Y., 1985	11-14
Patrich, J. and Tsafrir, Y., 1985	106-12
Patrich, J. and Tsafrir, Y., 1987/88	3-6
Frankel, R., Patrich, J. and Tsafrir, Y., 1990	287-300
Patrich, J. and Tsafrir, Y., 1992	I: 181-86; II: 447-50
Patrich, J. and Tsafrir, Y., 1993	265-72
Goldfus, H., 1997	164-69
Patrich, J., 2006	341-93
Gutfeld, O. , 2009
Gutfeld, O. and Haber, M., 2009
Gutfeld, O. and Ecker, A. , 2013	167-74
Di Segni, L., 2016	185-98
Di Segni, L., 2016	189*
Gutfeld, O. and Kalman, Y. , 2019	106-110

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

Patrich and Tsafrir identified the complex as a village monastery whose church served the neighboring village. This identification is based on the wall that surrounded the entire complex (Patrich and Tsafrir 1993: 265). This identification is disputed by Gutfeld and Ecker, according to whom, there is not sufficient evidence to support such an identification. Their claim is based on the absence of other components, apart from a church, that would point to a monastery, such as a refectory or dwellings. In addition, they point out that none of the inscriptions mention an abbot or monks, only donners are mentioned. They suggest that the church was a private church serving the villagers and pilgrims (Gutfeld and Ecker 2013: 173). Di Segni, too, is of the opinion that the complex was erected by a group of lay persons, indicated by the inscriptons, and served an extended family or a village community (Di Segni 2016: 189*).

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

Most of the walls had been plundered down to their lowest course, in some places even that is missing. The mosaic pavements were well preserved, including four Greek inscriptions.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

H. Beth Loya plan of the church (Patrich and Tsafrir 1993: 266)

General description

Enclosing walls:

The site is entirely surrounded by a wall.

Courtyards:

A large atrium (30.5 x 20 m) is located west of the church.

Churche/s:

The church, located in the eastern part of the complex, forms the major part of it. The church is a monaspsidal basilica (18.6 x 12.1- internal measurements). An exo-narthex is located to its west (3.6 m wide). Steps (7.2 m wide) led from the atrium to the narthex. Three entrances led from the narthex into the church. Two rows of columns separated the aisles from the nave. The columns, standing on stylobates were topped with pseudo-Corinthian and pseudo-Ionian order capitals in low relief. Pastophoria are located at the eastern end of both aisles. The apse is internal. A chapel (7.5 x 4.2 m) is located on the northern side of the church. It was entered from a doorway in the northern aisle. A baptistery (4.1 x 3.5 m) is located on the south side of the church, reached from a doorway in the southern aisle. The church and its auxiliary rooms were all paved with polychrome mosaics. Fragments of altar screen and posts were found. An atrium (20x30m), stone paved, with rooms on its northern and southern sides, extended on the west.

Refectory:

A large hall on the northern side of the atrium, paved by white mosaics, might have served as a refectorium according to Gutfeld and Kalman.

Burials:

A burial cave is located ca. 5 m north of the chapel, outside the wall surrounding the complex. The cave consists of a subterranean burial chamber (3.25 x 2.3 m and 1.75 m high). A hewn staircase leads into the cave. Three burial niches in the walls were covered with stone slabs. Four crosses were carved into the rock above them. Twenty six lamps dated to the Early Islamic period were found intact along with fragments of glass vessels and one intact bottle.

Water installations:

A large water cistern was located under the atrium, at its center. It got its water via a plastered settling basin, octagonal in shape, attached to it on the east. Three drainage channels led water to the settling basin and clay water pipes conducted the water to the cistern. A monolitic stone basin, on the west of the water cistern, seemingly served for the washing of face, hands and legs by drawn water.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

Two small quarries were found ca. 20 m south of the atrium. A well preserved winepress was found 20 m east of the church. The treading floor (7 x 5.5 m) had a screw anchoring stone in its center and a drain led to a settling vat (0.95 x 0.9 m and 0.75 m deep). A round, plastered collection vat (2.25m diameter) had a mosaic floor. An oil press was partially uncovered adjoining the south side of the church, east of the baptistery. The oil press was an integral part of the church, attested by its walls that had been carved into the hill. Two uprights were found in the eastern part of the press. A collection basin 1.23 m in diameter and 0.85 m deep was sunk into the rock. A rock that had been part of the crushing mechanism was found in secondary use on the west side of the atrium.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Oil lamps	26 intact oil lamps dated to Early Islamic period- found in the burial cave.
Glass	Fragments of glass vessels and an intact glass bottle- found in the burial cave. A large fragment of window pane- found in the church.

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
1,350	Medium

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Tower/s

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
basilical	Diakonikon		Ground floor

Baptismal font

Tombs type:

Burial chamber

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

wine press\es [=w/p]

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

General outline:

The site consists of a basilical church surrounded by a walled precinct, additional structures, a winepress and a burial cave.

Dating material:

The church was erected ca. 500 CE, based on the pottery and other finds.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Early

General outline:

An oil press was added in the space separating the southern wall of the church from the precinct wall.

Phase date

Century:

6th-7th c.

General outline:

The complex remained in use well into the Early Islamic period and was abandoned sometime in the eighth century, possibly destroyed by an earthquake.

Dating material:

Signs of iconoclasm and repairs attest that the church was in use in the first half of the eighth century.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

Second half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Yes

Iconoclastic evidence comments:

The defacement of the figures in the mosaics was done with care and then repaired. This indicates that it was done by the residents themselves, supporting the dating of the complex's use.

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

After having been abandoned, the site was dismantled and robbed for stone. The site was converted into a Muslim cemetery, jewelry and other items were found in the tombs.