Ras el Baquq - MIKRON; SMALL COENOBIUM

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ras el Baquq

Identification:

The remains found at Ras el Baquq have been identified with the Small Coenobium founded by Sabas in 493 CE as part of the Great Laura. Cyril of Scythopolis tells of John Hsychast who used to bring food for the builders of the Small Coenobium located 10 stadia (1.8 km) from the hospice of the Great Laura, of which he was in charge. The monastery was identified by Corbo about two km from the Great Laura. Marcoff and Chitty had mistakenly identified the site as the tower which marked the northern boundary of the Laura.

Monastery name:

MIKRON; SMALL COENOBIUM

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Desert

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

23,210.00

62,500.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

18,210.00

12,500.00

Geographical region:

Judean Desert

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Hilltop

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 17 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

ca. 17 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 15 km

Source of knowledge

HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Sabas establishes the small coenobium for novices, AD 493.
2	John the Hesychast serves as cook for the builders of the small coenobium, AD 492-493.
3	The garden of the Small Coenobium, ca. AD 550s.

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Marcoff and Chitty	1928
Patrich	1994

Bibliograpy:

Vailhé, S., 1900	51
Marcoff, M. and Chitty, D. J., 1929	176-77
Corbo, V. C., 1958	107-08
Hirschfeld, Y., 1990	34-35
Hirschfeld, Y., 1992	26
Patrich, J., 1994	93-94
Patrich, J., 1995	145-46
Di Segni, L., 2005	163; 226
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	116-17

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

The site of the Small Coenobium has not been excavated. It is not known, to date, when the site was abandoned. It can be assumed that being a part of the Great Laura, the small number of monks living there would have retreated into the Great Laura when the Persian army advanced in the early seventh century, or during the Arab conquest. In later years, when the monks of the Great Laura retreated behind walls for safety, it was probably not resettled.

State of certainty:

Archaeologically and Literarily definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site, situated on a long and narrow hill, consists of several structures surrounded by a wall. The structures are dispersed in three different locations along the summit of the hill. A large structure on the east, to its west, there is a smaller structure (7 x 5 m). Further to the west, a third structure (15 x 10 m) is divided into three rooms.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

General description

Paths:

A well paved path connected the Small Coenobium with the Great Laura.

Enclosing walls:

The wall (ca. 200 x 25 m) was constructed at the top of the slopes surrounding the site except on its southern side where the slope is particularly steep.

Tower/s:

A massive structure (11 x 10 m) on the eastern side was supported by thick walls giving the impression of a tower.

Dwellings:

The western structure was divided into three rooms, perhaps dwellings.

Water installations:

A blocked cistern was identified near the smallest structure, its capstone in situ. To its northeast are remains of a channel, plastered in a light colored plaster. Two more cisterns are located west of the westernmost structure. To the west, remains of an Herodian aqueduct to Hyrcania crossed the wadi. It is possible that some of the water was incorporated into the irrigation system of the monastery (Patrich 1995: 146).

Garden:

Near the joining point of Wadi el-Baqquq and the Kidron there are some ruins of Byzantine structures, cisterns and terraced plots. This has been identified as the location of the orchard mentioned by Cyril of Scythopolis (V. Jo. Hes. 26, 221).

Agricultural and industrial installations:

Agricultural terraces were identified on the northern slope.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	Byzantine pottery: bowls; handle of cooking pot lid; cooking pot; jars. Early Arab: jar

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)
5,000

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Enclosing wall

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
No traces

Dwelling type:

cells

Built paths

Retaining walls

Agricultural installations:

Terraces [=t]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

Several structures surrounded by a wall. Founded by Sabas in 493 CE.

Dating material:

Literary source: Cyril of Scythopolis.

Phase date

Century:

5th-6th c.

General outline:

Most likely abandoned in the first half of the seventh century, possibly during the Persian occupation.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

First half