Ramthaniyye; Ramsaniyye - St. John the Baptist

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ramthaniyye; Ramsaniyye

Identification:

Based on an inscription, the site was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

Monastery name:

St. John the Baptist

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Village

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

275,641.00

769,652.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

225,620.00

269,592.00

Geographical region:

Golan Heights

Bishopric:

Paneas

Topographical location:

Small hill

Soils:

Volcanic

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 25 km (Paneas)

Distance from Roman roads:

0.5 km from the road connecting the Galilee with Damascus.

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Schumacher	1882
Dauphin and Gibson	1978-1988

History:

A martyrion of St. John the Baptist was consecrated in 377 CE, identified by an inscription. The martyrion was later reconstructed and a monastery possibly added.

Bibliograpy:

Schumacher, G., 1888	231-35
Gregg, R. C. and Urman, D., 1996
Gregg, R. C., 2000	519-57
Dauphin, C. M. and Gibson, S., 1994	3-25

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site consists of a complex of rooms surrounding a central courtyard, a chapel, a funerary chapel, burial caves. Architectural elements were found in the surveys including lintels, capitals and walls. Inscriptions were found on some of the elements.

General description

Courtyards:

A central courtyard surrounded by rooms was noted in the surveys.

Churche/s:

A funerary chapel and a martyrion at the summit of the hill.

Burials:

burial caves were found nearby.

Cave/s:

see burials.

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Basalt

Components

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
unknown

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

A monastery was established in the village where a martyrion dedicated to John the Baptist had stood since 377 CE.

Dating material:

Epigraphy

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

General outline:

According to the surveyors, the site was abandoned in 636 CE following the Arab conquest of the Golan Heights.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

Mid

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned