Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Khirbet es-SuyyaghIdentification: It has been tentatively suggested that the rural monastery at Kh. es Suyyagh could be identified with the monastery mentioned by Moschus which was dedicated to the Old Testament's Samson (Taxel 2009:193-194). Taxel based this suggestion on the location of the monastery ca. 20 km. from Jerusalem (although Moschus does not specify in which direction) and its being a communal monastery with a hospice for the accommodation of pilgrims. This suggestion is contrary to the suggestion made by Gass and Zissu (2005) which placed the monastery of Samso at the site of Iraq Isma'in.Monastery name: SAMSO (?)Monastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countrysidePilgrimsFormer farm LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 20,012.0062,842.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 15,012.0012,842.00 Geographical region: ShephelahProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: EleutheropolisTopographical location: Level ground in a region of low hillsDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 20 km (Eleutheropolis)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 6 km north of the road connecting Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis with the Judean hills. Source of knowledgeHideLiterary sources Text number Summary 1 Mention of a monastery of Samson twenty miles from Jerusalem, from an early 7th cent. collection of anecdotes. Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Conder and Kitchener1871-1877 Weiss, Zissu and Solimany 2004 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate Taxel2004-2005 Bibliograpy: Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883125 Weiss, D., Zissu, B. and Solimany, G., 2004 Taxel, I., 2006169-83 Taxel, I., 200857-73 Taxel, I., 2009 Taxel, I., 2009133-39 Dagan, Y., 201019-20 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 201267-68 Taxel, I., 2013145-54 Dayan, A., 2015153 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The monastry consists of two units: the central unit which includes the residential and industrial parts and the church unit which includes the church, the hospice and the entrance. Most of the complex remained to a height of a few courses, although in some areas only the foundations are extant. The tower had been badly damaged in the modern age, mostly remaining only in the foundations. The pavement of the church was also very badly damaged with little remaining of it. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Figures General descriptionPaths: A three m wide path, lined with stones on both sides led up to the main gate of the monastery. Enclosing walls: The complex was enclosed in a sturdy ashlar built wall on the northern, eastern and southern sides. On the western side, the wall consisted of several sections of varying thickness, including the thick wall of the tower. The central unit that is enclosed in these walls measures 18 x 50 m, an area of 900m2. Gate/s: The main gate to the monastery was in the southern wall. The gateway included several elements that formed a comprehensive architectural unit: the path leading to the gate; the gateway itself with double doors, one smaller than the other; an external guardroom; a small cell and the corridor leading into the monastery proper. A secondary gate existed in the western wall which most likely served the monks only. Courtyards: Two courtyards were uncovered at Kh. es Suyyagh. A large rectangular courtyard (7.5 x 21 m, with an area of about 157 m2) is located in the central unit of the complex. This courtyard was paved with a combination of ashlars, fieldstones and architectural elements in secondary use. The fill beneath this courtyard contained a large amount of broken pottery vessels, roof tiles and broken limestone and marble vessels providing the date for the construction of the courtyard in the early seventh century CE. A second, smaller courtyard (ca. 22.5 m2) is located near the residential rooms of the monastery. A large external courtyard was located outside the enclosing wall of the monastery on its western side Tower/s: A massive tower (18.8 x 10 m) stood at the northwestern corner of the complex, at its highest point and overlooking the secondary gate. Churche/s: The church was a basilica (16.7 x 13.4 m) with a single apse. Unusually, the apse was polygonal and protruded from the eastern wall. The walls of the church survived in a poor state and its floor was almost completely destroyed. Based on the marble fragments found, Taxel suggested that the floor of the church was paved with marble slabs. The roof, in the well known Byzantine manner was gabled and tiled. Dwellings: Seven rooms in the complex were identified as the cells of monks. The cells were rectangular and of varying sizes, from the smallest at nearly 8 m2 to the largest at ca. 30 m2. The excavator suggested that the smaller rooms were for individuals while the larger rooms housed 2-3 monks each. Two additional rooms were suggested to have been the living quarters of the abbot, and the guardroom at the main gate probably served as living space for the porter. Based on the room assessment, the number of monks at the monastery was estimated at 20. Refectory: A rectangular hall (7.9-8.3×4.1 m) near the church, forming part of the church unit was tentatively identified as a refectory, based on its location adjacent to the hall identified as a kitchen. This hall probably served both the resident monks and the visitors residing in the hospice. Storage facilities: Outside the main unit, near the wall of the tower (but separate from it) a storeroom was found. It was identified as such by the broken storage jars found in the room. The floor of the storeroom was paved with stone flags. This whole outer compound probably served, apart from storage, for various crafts and possibly for keeping animals. The basement of the tower was also used as a storage facility, attested by the remains of storage jars. It was probably reached by a ladder from the floor above. Kitchen: A room (10 x 7.4-7.5 m) east of the one identified as a refectory, was identified as a kitchen based on a stone base that possibly served to hold a flour mill. Hostelry: The excavator suggested that the large hall and its back room in the southeast corner of the monastery served as a hostel for pilgrims. Water installations: Two cisterns were found within the complex, hewn in the soft chalk. The cisterns were perpendicular to each other, lined with small stones and plastered. A staircase apparently led to the openings for drawing water. The northern cistern was about 3 m deep but its width and length could not be ascertained due to its collapse, possibly as a result of an earthquake. It had been used until its collapse. The eastern cistern had been in use for a longer period, possibly up to the first half of the eighth century. Its dimensions are 2.6 x 4.1, with a known depth of 4.3 m and a capacity of at least 46 cubic m. Agricultural and industrial installations: An oil press was located in the northeastern part of the central unit. It contained one crushing installation whose fragments (of the basin) were found scattered near an oval base built of stones, and two presses. A monolithic collection vat was found sunk into the chalk. A winepress was found just outside the northwestern corner of the complex, only the lower part of the collection vat remained. South of the complex, a survey revealed a bell shaped cistern, a wine press (both the treading floor and the collection vat were observed), some agricultural terraces and signs of quarrying for construction material. These were probably connected with the monastery. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryBowls, casseroles, cooking pots, storage jars, jugs, juglets, a jar decorated with a christogram in red ink. GlassFragments of lamps and beakers, some fragments of round window panes. Stone vesselsMortars of basalt and limestone, a roller for levelling roofs and paths etc., fragment of marble bowl for grinding spices or incense. Metal objectsIron- nails and a two tined hoe. Bronze- two weights Lead- two weights, one with an iron ring attached. CoinsMost of the coins date to the fourth to seventh centuries, especially sixth to seventh. Some earlier (Roman) and some later (Ummayyad) were also found. BonesAnimal bones, mainly sheep and goats were found but also some pig and cattle bones. OtherReliquary lids. OtherCeramic pilgrim's flask Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 2,030Large StructureMaterials applied (walls): LimestoneMaterials applied (roofing): tilestimber ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 2Tower/sCourtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location basilicalGround floor RefectoryDwelling type: cellsNumber of stories: 1Storage facilities – warehousesKitchenHostelryBuilt pathsAgricultural installations: oil press\es [=o/p]wine press\es [=w/p]Terraces [=t]Water installations: CisternsWater capacity (minimal) (cubic m): 91Inscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Phase 2 Abandonment Phase name (as published): Phase IIAGeneral outline: According to the excavator, the distinction between the first and second phases and between sub-phases was not always possible. The central unit and the tower were apparently first constructed in the second half of the sixth century. It may have served as a farm. Phase dateCentury: 6th c.Within century: Second half Phase name (as published): Phase IIBGeneral outline: The pottery and numismatic finds beneath the church unit indicate that the church and its auxiliary structures were constructed no earlier than the middle of the seventh century. On the other hand, the excavator suggested that the finds indicate a partial reconstruction of the church unit and the outer unit due to damage either from an earthquake or due to the Persian occupation. Apparently the apse of the church collapsed entirely and was rebuilt in a rough manner.Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: Mid Phase dateCentury: 7th-8th c. Post conquest history comments: The complex was used in the Abbasid period and remodeled after it had gone out of use as a monastery.
