Tiberias - Mt. Berenice

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Tiberias

Monastery name:

Mt. Berenice

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Urban

Pilgrims

Source of sacredness:

Sacred Objects

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

250,832.00

742,432.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

200,829.00

242,432.00

Geographical region:

Sea of Galilee

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina II

Bishopric:

Tiberias

Topographical location:

On a hill top overlooking Tiberias and Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).

Soils:

Limestone and terra rosa.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

0 (Tiberias)

Distance from nearest settlement:

0 (Tiberias)

Distance from Roman roads:

0.5 km from the road following the western shores of Lake Kinneret.

Source of knowledge

Literary sources

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Y. Hirschfeld	1990-1994

Bibliograpy:

Ovadiah, A., 1970	180-81
Hirschfeld, Y., 1993	120-27
Hirschfeld, Y., 1994	122-23
Amir, R., 1994	37-38
Amir, R., 1994	134-37
Hirschfeld, Y., 1994	29-33
Hirschfeld, Y., 2004
Patrich, J., 2006	341-93
Cytryn-Silverman, K., 2016	235-48

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The entire complex was excavated including the church and its surrounding complex of rooms. The complex was found in an excellent state of preservation with long parts of the external walls standing to a height of three meters. All the columns of the Abbasid church and an arch were still in situ.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Mt. Berenice- location of the monastery (Hirschfeld 1993: 122)

Mt. Berenice- plan of the church precinct (Hirschfeld 1993: 123)

Mt. Berenice- reconstruction of the monastery in the Abbasid period (Hirschfeld 1993: 123)

General description

Enclosing walls:

The outer walls of the church and its auxiliary rooms form the outer enclosing perimeter of the monastery complex. In a rather unusual fashion, the three apses of the church form a part of this enclosing wall. In the northwestern corner of the complex, the city wall cuts diagonally across the complex, giving it an unusual shape.

Gate/s:

The complex was entered through a gate in its southern wall. An open area lies between the church and monastery complex where some installations were found, including an oil press. Between these installations and the church structure the excavations revealed a tower and a gate through the city wall. If the space to the south of the church was part of the monastery land, we might assume that the gate served the monastery exclusively.

Courtyards:

A large atrium stands west of the church with a large cistern in its center. Rooms were uncovered on its southern and western sides.

Churche/s:

The church was a large basilica (48 x 28 m) with three external apses. The aisles were paved with a mosaic depicting birds and fruit, the nave was paved with opus sectile. A large stone anchor was found near the altar, forming a sacred object of veneration.

Refectory:

A row of three rooms is located north of the church. The central of the three rooms, measuring 12 x 4.3 and paved in a polychrome mosaic probably served as the monastery's refectory.

Water installations:

Beneath the atrium of the church, a large cistern was found. Four arches supported the roof of the cistern which had a capacity of 300 m³

Agricultural and industrial installations:

An olive oil press was located outside the precinct, near the southwestern corner of the city wall. It is assumed to have belonged to the monastery.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	Roman to Mamaluk
Glass	Large quantities of glass mostly Byzantine and Umayyad.
Metal objects	Hanger for lamp; keys; tools; bell.
Other	Ostrich shell

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
1,384	Medium

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
basilical		Tiberias - Mt. Berenice	Ground floor

Refectory

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Water capacity (minimal) (cubic m):

300

Painted plaster

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Stratum IV

General outline:

The church and monastery were founded in the sixth century as one of the projects of Justinian, reported by Procopius.

Dating material:

Literary source (Procopius, Buildings, V).

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

First half

Phase name (as published):

Stratum III

General outline:

The structures were badly damaged in the earthquake of 749 CE. After the destruction the church was rebuilt. It is not clear if the monastery continued to function.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

Mid

Phase name (as published):

Stratum II

General outline:

The church was in use as late as the eleventh century as indicated by the remains of frescos. Crusader period pottery was also found. It is most likely, however, that the monastery had been abandoned earlier.

Phase date

Century:

Unknown

Post Arab conquest history:

Built anew

Post conquest history comments:

The complex was completely destroyed in the earthquake of 749 CE and was rebuilt not long after, during the Abbasid period. It continued in use to the end of the Crusader period. It is not known if it continued to exist as a monastery or as a church only.