Khirbet Se’arta; Ḥorvat Seorah - ZENO

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Monastery name, type, category
Site Name: 
Khirbet Se’arta; Ḥorvat Seorah
Identification: 
Hirschfeld suggested that the site west of H. Se'orah (Kh. She'arta) should be identified with the monastery or hermitage of Zeno ( Hirschfeld 2004: 73). According to the literary sources, Zeno shut himself up in a seclusion cell near the village of She'arta (V. Pet. Ib. 50; Pleroph. VIII; Chitty 1966: 73) where he eventually died.
Monastery name: 
ZENO
Monastery type: 
Hermitage/hermitages
Monastery category: 
Village
Location
Coordinates, ITM system: 
148,247.00
590,651.00
Coordinates, ICS system: 
100,817.00
92,313.00
Geographical region: 
North-Western Negev
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina I
Bishopric: 
Gaza
Topographical location: 
Level ground
Distance from nearest bishop-seat: 
ca. 11 km (Gaza)
Distance from nearest settlement: 
ca. 100 m (Kefar She'arta)
Distance from Roman roads: 
ca. 1 km west of the road leading from Gaza to the central Negev.
Source of knowledge
Literary sources
Hide Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors: 
NameDate
Clermon-Ganneau
1873-1874
Gat
2014
Bibliograpy: 
Clermont-Ganneau, C., 1896-1899
Bagatti, B., 1983
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994
165
Bitton-Ashkelony, B. and Kofsky, A., 2000
69-110
Bitton-Ashkelony, B. and Kofsky, A., 2000
14-62
Chryssavgis, John, 2003
102
Bagatti, B., 2002
Hirschfeld, Y., 2004
61-88
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
Discussion: 
The site mentioned as the possible site of the monastery of Zeno, near H. Se'ora (Kh. She'arta) has not been excavated. There is no certainty that a monastery actually existed at the site although there is some evidence for the existence of a church. Hirschfeld wrote: "...it may be assumed that the structure on the western hill...was a monastery" (Hirschfeld 2004: 73). The literary sources, however, do not mention a monastery, only that Zeno secluded himself in a cell: "...in the little village Kefar She'arta, about fifteen miles from Gaza" (v. Pet. Ib. 50 [tr. Horn 2003:115-116]). It might be assumed, therefore, that the cell in which Zeno lived in seclusion was located at this site and a church constructed there to commemorate the place and his memory.
State of certainty: 
Uncertain / Questionable
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered: 

The site extends on a hill about 100 m west of the area identified tentatively as the village of Kefar Shearta. Remains of an ancient building can be discerned. The poor state of preservation of the remains prevents reconstruction of the building's plan.

Illustrative material: 
Hide General description
Water installations: 

A typical Byzantine cistern with an estimated capacity of 40-50 cubic m is located near the structure remains. Two more cisterns were found a short distance away.

Agricultural and industrial installations: 

A fragment of a donkey millstone.

Hide Small finds
Small finds: 
CategoryDescription
Pottery
Fragments of Byzantine pottery are scattered around the site.
Glass
Fragments of Byzantine glass are scattered around the site.
Stone vessels
Fragments of granite, basalt and limestone bowls and pestles. Fragments of hand operated mill (basalt)
Detailed description
Hide Structure
Materials applied (walls): 
Marble
Materials applied (roofing): 
tiles
Hide Components
Monastery church: 
Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location
unknown
Water capacity (minimal) (cubic m): 
40
Architectural evolution
General outline: 
Zeno first secluded himself in a cell a year before the Council of Chalcedon, i.e. 450 CE (also the year of his death). Nothing is known of any remains.
Dating material: 

Based on literary sources (see identification sectionn).

Hide Phase date
Century: 
5th c.
Within century: 
Mid