Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: En-Nebi SamwilMonastery name: DEIR SAMWILMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: PilgrimsFormer fortressFormer ruinSource of sacredness: Old Testament site LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 21,720.0063,780.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 16,720.0013,780.00 Geographical region: Judean HillsProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: HilltopDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 10 km (Jerusalem)Distance from nearest settlement: ca. 10 km (Jerusalem)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 3 km south of the road connecting Jerusalem with the coastal plain Source of knowledgeHideLiterary sources Text number Summary 1 Mention of the tomb of Samuel in Ramatha, from an itinerary of ca. AD 518-530. 2 Emperor Justinian builds a well and a wall at the monastery, from a panegyric of AD 550s. 3 Mention of the tomb of Saint Samuel at a distance from Mount Olivet, from an 8th cent. guidebook for pilgrims. EpigraphyArchaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Guérin1868-69 Conder and Kitchener1871-77 Vincent1922 Kochavi1967-68 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate Magen and Dadon1999; 2000-2001 Bibliograpy: Guérin, V., 1869I: 362-84 Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883110 Vincent, L. H., 1922360-402 Kallai, Z., 1972185-86 Magen, Y. and Dadon, M., 199962-72 Magen, Y. and Dadon, M., 2003123-38 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012289-91 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Archaeologically and Literarily definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: Very few remains of the Byzantine monastery structure have been published. Some remains of a white mosaic pavement belong to this period. The monastery is known from literary sources (Procopius, Buildings, V, 9, 15) and from seal impressions on the handles of Umayyad jars inscribed with "Deir Samwil". Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: An enclosing wall is known from the literary sources (Procopius, Buildings V, 9, 15). Agricultural and industrial installations: An improved winepress dating to the Byzantine period was found. The treading floor was paved with mosaics and it was connected to a plastered collection vat. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryPottery vessels dated to Byzantine period (types not specified). Handles of jars inscribed with "Deir Samwil" (Monastery of Samuel) dating to the Umayyad period. OtherTesserae CoinsNot specified. Detailed descriptionComponentsMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location No traces 0 Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The monastery was probably founded sometime in the fifth or first half of sixth century prior to the reign of Justinian. It continued into the Early Islamic period.Phase dateCentury: 6th c. General outline: The monastery was still active in the Early Islamic period. Dating material: Jar handles with an Arabic inscription "Nebi Samwil" have been taken as evidence that the monastery continued to function. Its exact abandonment date is not known, possibly sometime between the ninth and eleventh centuries. Phase dateCentury: Other Post Arab conquest history: Still in usePost conquest history comments: The site was rebuilt in the Crusader period.
