Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Khirbet Umm el-'Amed (Judean Desert fringes)Identification: Hirschfeld suggested identifying the site with the monastery that had been the seat of Dionysius and Theodosius, mentioned by Epiphanius (Epiphanius IV. 16-17 (ed. Donner, 71).Monastery name: MonasteryMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countryside LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 22,568.0061,372.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 17,568.0011,372.00 Geographical region: Judean Desert fringesProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: On a spur sloping eastwards.Soils: Rocky limestoneDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 22 km (Jerusalem)Distance from nearest settlement: ca. 6 km (Thecoa)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 5 km east of the road leading southwards from Thecoa. Source of knowledgeArchaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Conder and Kitchener1871-1877 Marcoff and Chitty1928 Hirschfeld1984 Bibliograpy: Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883379-80 Marcoff, M. and Chitty, D. J., 1929167-78 Hirschfeld, Y., 198140-42 Hirschfeld, Y., 198586-90 Hirschfeld, Y., 199063-64 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012162-63 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: The site was first identified as a communal monastery by Conder and Kitchener in the Survey of Western Palestine. Marcoff and Chitty agreed with this assessment. Hirschfeld, although agreeing with the above, also suggested that the site might have been a village. His reasoning for casting doubt on the earlier identification was based on the basilical church, a type that is not common in the Judean Desert monasteries. However, this particular monastery is located on the desert fringes, areas where basilical churches have been found in monasteries such as in nearby Thecoa and the monastery of Theodosius.State of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The site, that had been surveyed, was not excavated. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures General descriptionPaths: Two paths lead to the monastery, one from the direction of Tekoa’/Thecoa, the other from Herodion. Enclosing walls: The complex is surrounded by a wall, the northern one reaching a length of 85 m, its outer facet is built of ashlars. Courtyards: The complex contains three courtyards. To the south of the church there is an atrium which is surrounded by rooms, the entire area of the atrium and the rooms being 25 x 21 m. The eastern and western courtyards served in a residential capacity (see below Dwellings). Tower/s: A tower is located in the northeastern corner of the complex. Churche/s: The church (25 x 18 m) is a basilica with an apse (5.1 m inner diameter), flanked by two square spaces in a poor state of preservation. It is entered from the west through a single entrance. The prayer hall is divided into a nave and two aisles by two rows of columns. It was paved in a polychrome mosaic evidenced by colorful tesserae scattered over the entire area. The chancel was paved in opus sectile. Dwellings: A row of rooms is located along the northern wall. Dwelling rooms were built around the eastern and western courtyards. Water installations: A sophisticated drainage system was found. This channeled rain water from the slopes surrounding the complex and from the streambeds into built reservoirs and cisterns. A bell shaped cistern is located in the atrium. The upper diameter is 1.6 m, its lower diameter is over 5 m and its current depth is 5.4 m. A reservoir is located to the east of the church (14 x 5 m, 6 m deep). The reservoir is hewn into the rock, five arches across it supported the roof. The reservoir was fed by two long and parallel channels. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryBowls; Jars; Storage jars. OtherFragments of roof tiles Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 1,000Small StructureMaterials applied (walls): LimestoneMaterials applied (roofing): tiles ComponentsEnclosing wallTower/sCourtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location basilicalDiakonikonGround floor Dwelling type: cellsNumber of stories: 1Built pathsWater installations: CisternsChannelsWater capacity (minimal) (cubic m): 480Inscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The site consists of a basilica, a tower, dwelling cells, courtyards, cisterns and reservoirs all within encompassing walls.Dating material: Based on the architecture. Phase dateCentury: 5th-6th c. Phase dateCentury: 7th-8th c.
