Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Qasr er Rawabe; Khirbet er-RawabeIdentification: Qasr er-Rawabi was identified by Corbo as being the monastery established by Gabriel, the abbot of the monastery of St. Stephen's in Jerusalem, as narrated by Cyril of Scythopolis (V. Euthy. 37 [ed. Schwartz 56.7-9]). Gabriel had been a monk in the monastery of Euthymius and founded his monastery around 465 CE.Monastery name: GABRIELMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: DesertFormer fortressSource of sacredness: Founder's Tomb LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 22,760.0063,545.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 17,760.0013,545.00 Geographical region: Judean Desert fringesProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: Level groundDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 6 km (Jerusalem)Distance from nearest settlement: ca. 6 km (Jerusalem)Distance from Roman roads: Adjacent to the ancient highway leading eastwards from Jerusalem. Source of knowledgeHideLiterary sources Text number Summary 1 Abbot Gabriel of the monastery of Saint Stephen builds himself a small monastery, ca. AD 465. Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Van Kasteren 1890 Schneider1934 Corbo 1951 Kallai1967-68 Patrich1984 Magen and Finkelstein1993 Excavated siteExcavators: Name Hirschfeld Bibliograpy: van Kasteren, J. P., 1890116-17 Schneider, A. M., 1934224-25 Corbo, V. C., 1951202-207 Corbo, V. C., 1954570-75 Ovadiah, A., 1970181-82 Bar-Adon, P., 1972188 Patrich, J., 198461-62 Hirschfeld, Y., 199023-24 Hirschfeld, Y., 199245-46 Magen, Y. and Finkelstein, I., 1993388-89 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994207 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012307-309 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: The monastery was constructed of large stones. It has been suggested that the site served as a Roman fortification before the monastery was founded (Magen and Kagan 2012 I: 307). State of certainty: Archaeologically and Literarily definitive General descriptionIllustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures General descriptionPaths: A well paved path connects the site with the church of St. Peter (Qasr 'Ali) about 1.5 Km to the south. Enclosing walls: The monastery was enclosed in a wall (20.3 x 14.1 m, enclosing an area of 286 m2). Gate/s: The entrance to the complex is on its southern side, leading directly into the space over which the second story chapel had apparently been built. Courtyards: A small courtyard was located north of the church. Churche/s: The monastery's church was apparently located on a second story, indicated by fragments of colorful mosaics that were found on the coarse white mosaic of the southern hall. Remains of a staircase confirm the existence of a second story. Dwellings: Based on the archaeological evidence, it is presumed that the functions of daily life took part in the second story which probably contained the dwellings, church, refectory etc. Refectory: See above (Dwellings) Burials: The southern hall contained some well-built tombs dug into the ground. Based on their location and quality, they are assumed to be the tombs of the monastery's founders. Storage facilities: The ground floor served as a storage area and other functions. Cave/s: Some caves south of the monastery, that had been used as hideaways in the Roman period, may have formed an earlier phase of the monastery (Patrich 1984: 62). Kitchen: Although no remains of a kitchen were found, it might be safe to assume that this was located on the ground floor of the complex while the refectory was located upstairs. Stable: A long and narrow hall west of the southern hall was identified as a stable, based on the coarse stone flagged floor and a trough against one wall. Water installations: A cistern was located underground in the northwestern corner of the complex. Small finds Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 286Small StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 1Courtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveUpper floor Number of stories: 2Storage facilities – warehousesStableTombs type: Cist tombBuilt pathsWater installations: Cisterns0 Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: Based on Cyril of Scythopolis' account, the monastery was founded ca. 465 CE. No phasing was reported although it has been suggested that the caves located to the south of the monastery may have served it in its earlies stage (Patrich 1984: 62).Dating material: Literary. Phase dateCentury: 5th c.Within century: Second half Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: No General outline: Probably abandoned after the Arab conquest. Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: First half Post Arab conquest history: AbandonedPost conquest history comments: After the monastery was a bandoned the cistern became a lime kiln.
