Jerusalem (Mount of Olives) - near Bethphage (Ancona?)

Vertical tabs

Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Jerusalem (Mount of Olives)

Identification:

The remains uncovered in the late nineteenth century on the summit of the Mt. of Olives, near Bethphage, were excavated by Bliss and Dickie (1898: 224). The church was tentatively identified by Vincent and Abel (1914:390) with the Ancona church near Bethphage mentioned by Theodosius (TS 21). Goldfus (2003: 76) suggested that the remains be identified with the "Monastery of Holy Mary on the Mt. of Olives mentioned by Procopius of Caesarea as having been renovated by Justinian (Buildings LCL no. 341). This suggestion, is based on an inscription found in the mosaic pavement of the church mentioning two clergymen and three monks, suggesting that this was a monastic church, and on the elaborate opus sectile pavement found in the complex.

Monastery name:

near Bethphage (Ancona?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Para Urban

Source of sacredness:

New Testament site

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

223,473.00

631,779.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

173,478.00

131,778.00

Geographical region:

Jerusalem Mount of Olives

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

On a moderate slope, on Mount of Olives, ca. 250m to the east of the Eleona and 150m south of the Russian Tower of et-Tur, near Bethphage.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

1 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

1 km (Jerusalem)

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Bliss	1894

Bibliograpy:

Schick, C., 1895	32-36
Bliss, F. J. and Dickie, A. C., 1898	211-24
Goldfus, H., 1997	76
Goldfus, H., 2003	71-79

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site was uncovered in the late nineteenth century during construction operations. Of the complex's walls, a single one was preserved to about 1.80 m, some of the others to a lesser height. Only the northern part of the church had survived while the southern aisle and the southern half of the nave did not.The mosaic pavements were fairly well preserved. The complex consisted of several rooms, the function of which was not determined, cisterns and a possible burial complex. An elaborate opus sectile pavement was found as well as mosaics and an inscription.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Mt. of Olives- design of mosaic (Schick 1895: 34).

General description

Churche/s:

A basilica ending in single inscribed apse. The church was paved in an intricate opus sectile pavement of marble in four colors. A smaller side chapel flanked the church on its northern side. The chapel was divided by a 10 cm wide wall with a passage in its center, possibly serving as a chancel screen. Goldfus suggested that this was a mortuary chapel, based on the inscription on the mosaic pavement.

Dwellings:

Several rooms were identified in the complex. Their function was not ascertained, some of these may have been dwellings.

Burials:

Burials were found in three location: one was outside the door of the northern aisle (possibly a narthex); one burial was in the southern aisle and a third burial consisting of two cist tombs ca. 1.80 x 0.60 m. The tombs were sealed with two layers of stone slabs, carved into the rock and lined with stone slabs. Two poorly preserved skeletons were found in the northern of the two tombs along with fragments of a glass vessel.

Water installations:

A well constructed reservoir with a vaulted roof and a settling pool was uncovered, its measurements were not provided. A second cistern (approximately 3.80 x 2.30 m) and a well constructed channel were also found.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy
Glass	A glass vessel in one of the tombs.
Bones	Remains of 2 skeletons.

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Components

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
basilical
single nave

Tombs type:

Cist tomb

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

Phase date

Century:

Early Christian / Byzantine

Phase date

Century:

7th c?