Jabaliyah; el-Mkheitim - Church

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Jabaliyah; el-Mkheitim

Identification:

The site called el-Mkheitim. Located at Jabaliyah, in Gaza.

Church name:

Church

Dedication:

unknown

Functional Type:

Parochial

Church type:

Ecclesiastical complex

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

150.17

603.46

Coordinates, ICS system:

100.16

1,103.46

Location:

Para-urban

Geographical region:

Gaza strip

Topographical location:

3 km from the Mediterranean sea

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

3 km

Distance from nearest settlement:

Located 3 km. north-west of ancient Gaza.

Distance from Roman roads:

3 km to the north from the road connected Gaza with Beer Sheva, Mamshit and further Darom; ca. 1.5 km to the west from Via Maris

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Gaza

Source of knowledge

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Dedicatory mosaic inscription of Paulus and Maria within a medallion, in the northern aisle of the basilica.
2	Mosaic building inscription within a medallion, near the southern threshold in the western room of the baptistery, March/April 594.
3	Building inscription within a semi-medallion, in the mosaic carpet of the nave of the basilica, July/August 732 CE.
4	Fragment of a two-line inscription with an invocation of Christ, in the mosaic carpet of the nave of the basilica.
5	Dedicatory mosaic inscription of Victor and Salamtha within a medallion, at the eastern end of the northern aisle of the basilica.
6	Mosaic building inscription within a medallion, at the centre of the southern aisle of the basilica, 496/7 AD.
7	Dedicatory incsription of Hilarion, inscribed along the rim on a fragment of an octogonal marble.
8	Unframed funerary mosaic inscription of Hilarion, at the northern threshold of the central nave of the basilica, 6 April 528.
9	See our Inscription no. 7.
10	Dedicatory mosaic inscription of Barachon and his family within a rectangular frame, at the northern threshold of the western nave of the basilica, 529/530 AD.
11	Dedicatory inscription of Paulus, Flavia and Maria within a tabula ansata, in the central mosaic carpet of the diaconicon.
12	Dedicatory inscription of Paulus and Maria within a rectangular frame, in the eastern mosaic carpet of the diaconicon.
13	Building inscription within a rectangular frame, in the central mosaic carpet of the diaconicon, 530 AD.
14	Fragmentary mosaic depicting the rivers of paradise, at the foot of the baptismal basin in the baptistery.
15	Building inscription within a medallion, in the western mosaic carpet of the central room of the baptistery, July/August 549.
16	Dedicatory building inscription of Paulus and Maria within a medallion, in the western mosaic carpet of the central room of the baptistery.
17	Signature of the mosaicists Victor and Cosmas within a square frame, in the western threshold of the central room of the baptistery, 548/9 AD.
18	Dedicatory mosaic building inscription of Paulus and Maria within a rectangular frame, in the western threshold of the central room of the baptistery.

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Gaza Antiquities Dept. and French archaeologists	1996-1997

Bibliograpy:

Humbert, J.-B., 1999
Humbert, J.-B., Abu Hassuneh, Y., Hassuneh, A., Abu Muhammar, M. and Salim. H., 2000
Saliou, C., 2000
Ameling, W., Cotton, H. M., Eck, W., Isaac, B., Kushnir-Stein, A., Misgav, ‎H., Price, J. and Yardeni, A., 2014	389-408

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The ecclesiastical complex comprises of a basilica (23X13 m), a diaconicon chapel and a baptistery, both attached on the N. The mosaic floor covered all three components and was well-preserved, including 17 inscriptions. The considerable part of the architecture and decoration was destroyed during the building activity, that occurred before the excavations. But the foundations are well preserved, except of the western part, where doorways, narthex and atrium supposed to be located with a crypt/burial (according to the trial trenches). The central apse is flanked on the south by a quadrangular chapel (inscription no. 17; no precise date). The pastophorium on the north was converted to an apsidal chapel by the addition of an external apse; 496/7 CE).

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Mosaic pavement of diaconicon. Humbert 2000: 123f.

Figures

Location of the Inscriptions; Saliou, 2000. Fig. 1.

Segment of an octagonal marble table with an inscription on its edge. CIIP (Vol. III) 2014: 408, No. 2459

Atrium:

A rectangular building excavated west of the church, surrounded by a portico, and with an opening to a cistern was interpreted as an atrium. Between the atrium and the basilica there is a crypt or burial loci.

Façade and entries:

The western wall of the basilica was destroyed but its location is identifiable by the limits of the mosaic floor. Three entrances are anticipated leading to the nave and aisles.

Entrance to the lateral chapel was in its western wall. It had two additional openings in each of its longuitudinal walls, enabling communication with the basilica to its south and with the baptistry on the north.

Entrance to the Baptisterium was in the southern wall of its westernmost unit.

Nave:

Two inscriptions were found in the Mosaic floor (numbered 15-16, 15 is dated to 732)

Aisles:

The south aisle mosaic comprised of two long carpets. An inscription (no. 1?, dated to 496-497) is located there. Another inscription (no. 13) is located in the northern aisle. Two doors lead from the northern aisle to the diaconicon.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

Only its foundations survived. Likewise scant remains of the chancel, extending only into the nave.

Lateral spaces:

An open rectangular room - an extention of the aisle with a dead end, is flanking the apse on the south. The open rectangular room on the north, containing an inscription (No. 17), has an external apse.

Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	17 Greek inscriptions were found in various parts of the complex. Eight of the inscriptions can be dated from 496 to 732.

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Comments, discussion and summary:

Due to the poor state of preservation of the walls it is hard to determine the phases of the church. However, this is possible due to the succession of the dated inscriptions in all components of the ecclesiastical complex.

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing south-east, but generally east

Materials applied (walls):

Kurkar

Atrium:

Yes

Water cistern:

Yes

Aisles:

Colonnades / Arcades:

Colonnade

Number of nave columns in a row:

Total	Extant in S	Extant in N
12	6	6

East end:

Internal apse

Church Head/Chevet:

second apse on the n

Central Apse Category:

apsidal

Bema type:

U shaped with two lateral openings

Altar remains:

legs

Altar type:

Secondary altar table

Altar location:

Attached to the rear wall

Secondary tables:

An offering table was located in the barrier of the diaconicon. Almost a third part of an octagonal table top carved from a gray-white marble (Quintern) has survived. Its inscription mentioning Hilarion was published by Saliou and Segni. The fumction of this table is still a mystery. It has a hole enframed with several molded circles in the central part, probably for holding of the lit candle (according to Humbert). Its edges were also adorned molded narrow strips.

Apse shape:

Hemispherical

Lateral Apses Function

Location:

N & S

Northern apse description and function:

An open rectangular room containing an inscription and an apse.

Southern apse description and function:

An open rectangular room.

Crypt

Accessibility and description:

A crypt/or burial loci was located west of the basilica, in line with the northern aisle. It is composed of three rooms and its entrance is through the atrium. Probably, it was a collective burial, dated by the small fins (glass vessels and dozens of lamps) to the Byzantine period.

Function:

Burial crypt.

Burial loci

Burials loci:

A tomb is located in the second room from the west of the baptistery. The tomb contains two skeletons: the first placed on its back, above it the second is bent over and across the first. The second skeleton appears to belong to a later period, possibly early Islam.

Baptism

Baptism photos and plans:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Loci:

Attached on the north.

Font structure:

Monolithic

External shape:

cruciform

Internal shape:

cruciform

Ben-Pechat type:

Attached structures

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:

Quadrangular chapel

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:

In a second constructive phase (528/30) a narrow chapel (18X4.5 m.), was added (or repaired) on the north. It functioned as a diakonikon, comprising two unequal spaces (the eastern one, with an offering table, being almost twice longer), separated from each other by a chancel screen. The chancel screen had two half-posts abutting the walls while one of the central post served also as a table leg. Two panels were fixed between the posts. Three inscriptions were found in the eastern part (nos. 4-6; no. 6 is dated to 530). The two entrances from the northern aisle also held inscriptions (nos. 2-3, dated to 528 and 529-30); a third entrance led in from the west. The western wall of the diaconicon is shifted somewhat east relative to the western wall of the basilica and the baptistery, creating a 'gap' in the plan.

Baptistery:

Quadrangular chapel

Baptistery description:

A spacious baptistery (23X10 m.) was added in a third phase to the north of the chapel. It comprised of a main room with the baptismal font and three narrower units, two to its west and one to its east. This layout permitted to carry the sacrament of baptism for the catechumens in a convenient and spacious manner (a baptistry of a "processional type"). The font did not survive; its location and shape is suggested by a cross-shaped depression in the floor. The westernmost broad room, serving perhaps as a reception hall, was entered from south. The one to its east might had served as an apodyterium, where the catechumens were undressed and anointed with oil. The central room, square and spacious (8x8 m), held the baptismal font in which the catechumens were baptized. Two columns adorned the doorway between the apodyterium and this "Holy of the Holies" (only their limestone plinths were preserved). The easternmost broad room of the complex was the "chrismarion", into which the Neophitoi (newly illumined) proceeded to after the baptism. There they were dressed in new white robes, given lit candles and passed to the main church for the first Holy Communion (Eucharist). Seven Inscriptions were laid in the baptistery: two located near the arcade of the font (nos. 7-8), two west of the arcade (nos. 9-10, 9 is dated to 549), two between the columns of the colonnade (nos. 11-12, 11 is dated to 548-549), the last inscription is located north of the entrance to the complex (no. 14, dated to 594). The baptismal font was looted, as well as the ciborium which rested on columns over it, but the remains of the lower parts of piers and intermediate column bases permits a partial graphical reconstruction of the ciborium. Its upper part was resting on four, Г-shaped, corner piers, and on four intermediate columns with Attic bases. The baptismal font was seemingly cross-shaped. A tomb covered by limestone slabs was found in the apodyterium.

Burial room or chapel:

Simple rectangular room

Burial room or chapel description:

A tomb covered by limestone slabs was found in the apodyterium. The existence of a burial(?) crypt (not excavated), was suggested to the west of the basilica, between it and the more western atrium.

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
Abandonment

General outline:

The basilica was the earliest component of this ecclesiastical complex.

Dating material:

The earliest dated inscription (no. 1), found in the center of the southern aisle, speaks about laying of the mosaic floor in 496-497 CE.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Late

General outline:

A chapel - diakonikon - was added to the basilica on the north.

Dating material:

Three dated inscriptions (nos. 2, 3, 6) associated with it date this addition to the years 528-530. Inscr. no 2, in the eastern passage from the northern aisle to the chapel is a funerary inscription dated to 528 CE; Inscr no. 3, in the western passage, naming several donors, is dated to 528/9 CE, and inscr. no 6, a building inscription laid in the center of the chapel, is dated to 530 CE.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

First half

General outline:

The baptistry was added to the north of the diakonikon.

Dating material:

Two dated mosaic inscriptions in the baptistery date the laying out of its mosaic floor to the year 548/9 (inscr. no. 11, signature of the two mosaicists) and the completion of the building to year 549 CE (inscr. no. 9, a building inscription).

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Mid

General outline:

Completion of the mosaic floor in the entry room to the baptistry.

Dating material:

The inscription in the western hall of the baptistery, near its entrance (inscr. no. 14), is dated to 594 CE.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Late

General outline:

A re-pavement of the nave of the church.

Dating material:

An inscription in the center of the nave is dated by a mosaic inscription (no. 15) to 732 CE.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

First half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Yes

Iconoclastic evidence comments:

In the mosaic floor of the eight century there is evidence to a repair of iconoclastic damage in the human and animal figures. It is hard to associate the damage to the decree of Yazid II, since the mosaic was laid after the decree was issued.

Phase date

Century:

Unknown

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

There is no evidence to a change in the church between the 6th and 8th century.

Conclusions:

The dated inscriptions (Saliou 2000; see the Epigraphy section of this corpus) permit to attribute precise dates to the various phase in all three components: --- Basilica: 496-97 CE – completion of S aisle mosaics (inscr. no. 1); 732 CE - main carpet in the nave repaved (inscr. no. 15). The script of inscr. no. 17, in a medallion in front of the N apsidiol, has a certain resemblance to that of inscr. no. 1, but Sailou is hesitant in attributing to this inscription such an early date. -- Chapel/diakonikon: 530 – main carpet of the prayer hall (inscr. no. 6); 528/9 CE – W opening connecting N aisle to chapel (inscr. no. 3); 528 – E opening connecting N aisle to chapel (inscr. no. 2). -- Baptistery pavement: 549 CE (inscrs. nos. 9, 11); 594 CE – mosaic laid in westernmost room of baptismal complex (inscr. no. 14). There is no evidence to any other change in the complex between the 6th and 8th century.