Khirbet ed-Daimita - ABBA ISAIAH (?); ABBA ESAIAS

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Khirbet ed-Daimita

Identification:

The site is suggested as the place where Abba Isaiah of Scetis secluded himself in a cell for fifty years until his death in 489 CE (Hirschfeld 2004: 74-75). A marble column found at the site led Guérin to suggest the identification. The suggested identification is based to a greater degree on the literary sources.

Monastery name:

ABBA ISAIAH (?); ABBA ESAIAS

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Village

Source of sacredness:

Founder's Tomb

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

140,735.00

592,049.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

90,748.00

92,063.00

Geographical region:

Coastal plain

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Raphia

Topographical location:

Level ground

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 13 km (Gaza)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 0.5 km east of the coastal road connecting Gaza with Raphia.

Source of knowledge

Literary sources

Archaeological remains

History:

The monk known as Esaias of Scetis settled in the region of Beit Dalatha, near Gaza around 440 CE until his death in 489 CE. A coenobium formed around his cell. No remains have been found to identify the monastery.

Bibliograpy:

Guérin, V., 1868-1880	252
Chitty, D. J., 1966	73-74
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	81
Bitton-Ashkelony, B. and Kofsky, A., 2000	69-110
Bitton-Ashkelony, B. and Kofsky, A., 2000	31
Hirschfeld, Y., 2004	73-74

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

No remains of the monastery have been found. The site of Khirbet ed Damita was suggested by Guérin, based on a marble column found there.

Small finds

Detailed description

Components

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
No traces

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

The monk known as Esaias of Scetis settled in the region of Beit Dalatha, near Gaza around 440 CE until his death in 489 CE.

Dating material:

Based on literary sources (see Literary Sources section).

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Mid

Phase date

Century:

Unknown