Scythopolis/Beth Shean - KYRA MARIA

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Scythopolis/Beth Shean

Identification:

Based on the inscriptions, the monastey may have been a private foundation of the Lady Maria mentioned.

Monastery name:

KYRA MARIA

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Urban

Source of sacredness:

Founder's Tomb

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

247,304.00

712,727.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

197,301.00

212,727.00

Geographical region:

Beth Shean Valley

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina II

Bishopric:

Scythopolis

Topographical location:

Level ground on the northern bank of Nahal Harod/Wadi Jalud.

Soils:

Volcanic

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

Less than 0.5 km

Distance from Roman roads:

Less than 1 km west of the road leading northwards.

Source of knowledge

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Commemorative and dedicatory inscription in a tabula ansata, in front of the main entrance (Room A).
2	Zodaic in the central panel of the mosaic pavement of the entrance hall (Room A).
3	Dated building inscription of Elias, in the doorway of Room L from th entrance hall (Room A), 553/4 or rather 568/9.
4	Mosaic inscription within a tabula ansata beyond the northern edge of the mosaic carpet of the entrance hall (Room A).
5	Mosaic inscription set in tabula ansata in the narthex (Room D), in front of the entrance to the chapel.
6	Mosaic inscription within a tabula ansata in the refectory (Room P).

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
FitzGerald	1929

Bibliograpy:

FitzGerald, G. M., 1939
Tzori, N., 1960	400-401
James, F. W. , 1962	20-24
Ovadiah, A., 1970	40
Schick, R., 1995	270
Goldfus, H., 1997	216-229
Di Segni, L., 1997	405-406
Hagan, S., 2013	37-42
Hickman, J., 2013	41

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The monastery that had been entirely unearthed was preserved the a height of 1-2 courses. The mosaic floors, including seven inscriptions, were well preserved.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Gold chain and bracelet found in room H (FitzGerald 1939, Fig. 1).

Figures

Beit Shean - general plan of the monastery (FitzGerald 1939: Pl. II)

General description

Enclosing walls:

The monastery was entirely enclosed in a wall at a very short distance from the city wall, outside of it. Precise measurements were not provided, they measured at least 20 x 35 m.

Gate/s:

The main entrance to the complex was on its southern side. It consisted of a double door 2.5 m wide. The threshold had sockets on both sides 7.5 cm deep which bore traces of rust, evidence of iron pivots for the leaves of the door. The gate led to a small vestibule and from there into a central courtyard.

Courtyards:

A courtyard (ca. 14.4 x 9.7 m) was located in the center of the complex. Although the excavator referred to this area as a "hall", based on the plan of many other monasteries, it is clearly a courtyard.

Churche/s:

The church (11.8 x 6.2 including apse) is a single aisle chapel with a single apse at its eastern end. At the entrance, a marble threshold remained in situ. The base of a chancel screen and a chancel screen panel adorned with a wreathed cross were found. Two inscriptions were located on each side in front of the apse, with tombs beneath them. An elongated hall or narthex was located west of the chapel. Fragments of plaster showing traces of red and yellow paint point to the existence of wall paintings.

Refectory:

A refectory was located in the western part of the complex, west of the courtyard. At some point, the refectory was apparently enlarged towards the north, reaching a total length of eight meters. An inscription commemorates the completion of the work at the time of the Hegumen George.

Burials:

Two burials were located within the chapel. Human remains were found in the graves along with a coin of Herakles (625 CE) and two bronze crosses. A burial chamber was located in the northern part of the complex, adjacent to the northwestern corner of the narthex. Human remains were found in the tomb.

Kitchen:

A kitchen was identified south of the refectory by the presence of a round clay oven (35 cm high, ca. 50 cm in diameter). It is possible that this oven served for cooking while a second oven was used for baking (see below).

Baking oven:

A round oven was located in the southeastern part of the monastery. It was larger than the oven located in the kitchen (ca. I m diameter) and may have served for baking bread.

Water installations:

Drainage channels were found beneath the pavement of the courtyard and in other parts of the monastery. Some of the channels led to a reservoir located down the slope. A cistern was located in the southeastern part of the monastery, no measurements were provided.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy
Metal objects	A three legged bronze censer; a globular weight of lead cased in bronze; A disk with perforations in the shape of a cross and a chain; a lead plaque with a depiction of Christ and an inscription on one side, a figure of the Virgin Mary on the reverse with the words "Holy Mary"; two chisels; three bronze crosses.
Jewelry	Two small pendant crosses; a bracelet; two rings; a heavy gold chain with a 2 cm medallion and a matching gold bracelet.
Other	A crystal bead and two ivory beads.
Glass	Six panes or slabs of glass of varying thickness (1-2.5 cm) in a variety of shapes and colors: deep and pale blue, lavader, blue-green and brown.
Pottery	Most of the pottery was found in the cistern: a dish, jugs and a large globular pot with four handles on the shoulder.
Bones	Human remains were found in the burials.

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Beit Shean - chain and bracelet found hidden beneath the paving (FitzGerald 1939: Fig. 1).

beit shean- pottery (FitzGerald 1939: Fig. 3).

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
700	Small

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Basalt

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
single nave	Diakonikon		Ground floor

Refectory

Number of stories:

Kitchen

Baking oven

Tombs type:

Cist tomb

Burial chamber

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Painted plaster

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

General outline:

In its first phase, the monastery was the site of a seclusion cell of a single monk, Elias- mentioned in an inscription, possibly in a tower of the city wall.

Dating material:

Epigraphy

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

General outline:

The hermitage became a coenobium led by Elias' successors. Although some changes were made in the sixth century, According to FitzGerald, the structure was constructed as a single unit. Di Segni (1997: 404-406) suggested that the eastern wing was built first, with the chapel and some rooms, to serve the recluse Elias and his desciples. The southern part may have been constructed sometime later. The mosaics are dated by the inscriptions beginning in 567 CE. This may have been the time when some changes were made, especially in the refectory where the mosaic paving is ascribed to the time of the Hegumen George.

Dating material:

Epigraphy

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Second half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Dating material:

The stashed jewelry and other finds may indicate that the occupants hid them due to a threat with the intention of returning to the monastery. This would suggest a threat such as occurred with the Arab conquest in the early seventh century CE.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

Early

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned

Post conquest history comments:

There is no evidence of the monastery having been occupied after 636 CE.