Ein el-Fawwar - PEGE

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ein el-Fawwar

Identification:

Identification of the monastic remains near 'Ein el-Fawwar as the monastery called "Pege" (The Spring) was suggested by Hirschfeld (1990: 49-50, no. 32), based on its proximity to the spring of 'Ein el Fawwar, one of the largest springs in the region. The laura was mentioned only once by Cyril of Scythopolis, according to whom, the abbot of the laura was sent with two others to the fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 553 CE.

Monastery name:

PEGE

Monastery type:

Laura

Monastery category:

Desert

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

23,315.00

63,860.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

18,315.00

13,860.00

Geographical region:

Judean Desert

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Cliff

Soils:

Rocky limestone

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 12 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

ca. 12 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 1.5 km north of the road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Source of knowledge

HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Abbot Cyriacus of the laura of the Spring is sent by the patriarch of Jerusalem to the oecumenical council at Constantinople, AD 552.

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Meinardus	1964-65
Hirschfeld	1987

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Hamilton	1931
Peleg (not published)	2008-2009

Bibliograpy:

Germer-Durand, J., 1898	264-66
Hamilton, R. W., 1932	151-52
Meinardus, O., 1964-1965	220-50
Ovadiah, A., 1970	53-4
Hirschfeld, Y., 1988/89	95-104
Hirschfeld, Y., 1990	49-50
Di Segni, L., 2005	221
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	296-97

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologically and Literarily definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The church of the monastery was excavated by Hamilton and later almost completely demolished. The other remains of the laura were surveyed.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

'Ein el Fawwar- mosaic paving of the church (Magen and Kagan 2012 I: 297, no. 154.3).

Figures

'Ein el Fawwar- plan of the church (Magen and Kagan 2012 I: 296, no. 154.1).

General description

Paths:

A central path connected the cells with the core of the laura. A broad staircase, paved in white mosaic, led from the courtyard to the spring.

Courtyards:

A complex consisting of a chapel and cells arranged around a small courtyard formed part of the laura's core .

Tower/s:

Southwest of the church, on a ledge, a tower like structure (6 x 4 m) marked the boundary of the laura.

Churche/s:

A church (8.5 x 3.5 m) was excavated by Hamilton near the spring The church had an inner apse and was paved with a mosaic which was partially preserved. At the eastern end of the laura were remains of a large ashlar built structure (14.5 x 8.5m) paved with a polychrome mosaic, possibly belonging to a second church, perhaps a funerary chapel.

Dwellings:

Several cells were arranged in and around the core of the monastery. Other dwelling cells were surveyed on the northern bank of the gorge, spread over a large area.

Kitchen:

In the river bed, 80 m northeast of the church, a structure (22 x 7 m) was suggested to be an auxiliary building with a bakery and storerooms.

Baking oven:

A baking oven was not actually found. Its presence was assumed by the surveyors.

Water installations:

The monastery is located next to the gushing spring of Ein el Fawwar which probably supplied most of the water needs of the laura. Built and plastered cisterns were found near the cells on the northern bank of the gorge.

Garden:

In the river bed, 2-3 large plots for communal gardening were identified, irrigated with spring water.

Small finds

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
30,000	Large

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Border marks

Tower/s

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
single nave	Diakonikon		Ground floor

Dwelling type:

cells

Built paths

Garden

Water installations:

Cisterns

Spring

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

The buildings of the laura of which only the church and some adjacent structures were excavated included, in addition a tower like structure and possibly a second church/funerary chapel, a large structure that may have contained a bakery and storerooms. Dwelling cells were scattered on the northern bank of the wadi.

Dating material:

Founded sometime in the first half of the sixth century, based on Cyril of Scythopolis' mention of its abbot who took part in the fifth oecumenical council in Constantinople in 553 CE.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

General outline:

The laura was probably abandoned in the first half of the seventh century, either as a result of the Persian occupation or of the Arab conquest.

Phase date

Century:

7th c?

Within century:

First half

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned