Jerusalem (Mount of Olives) - Cave of Gethsemane

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Church Name, type, function
Site Name: 
Jerusalem (Mount of Olives)
Identification: 
Place identified by some ancient pilgrims and modern scholars as the site of betrayal and arrest of Christ. Some are mentioning that it may have had a garden surrounding it that was likewise identified as the place of arrest (see under Literary Sources).
Church name: 
Cave of Gethsemane
Dedication: 
Commemorates the site of arrest of Christ?
Functional Type: 
Funerary chapel
Church type: 
Cave church
Location
Coordinates, ITM system: 
172,854.00
1,131,863.00
Coordinates, ICS system: 
222,870.00
631,864.00
Location: 
Para-urban
Geographical region: 
Jerusalem Mount of Olives
Topographical location: 
Ca. 100m north of the Church of Agony; Accessed from the courtyard of the Church of Assumption (Virgin Mary Tomb).
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina I
Bishopric: 
Jerusalem
Source of knowledge
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Excavated site
Excavators: 
NameDate
Corbo
Oct. 1956 - March 1957
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered: 

An oil press with a water cistern converted to a funarary chapel.

The cave, of irregular shape, are 19x10m in dimensions (maximal). Originally it was entered from the north. Latter a new opening was installed on the west, permitting direct access from the courtyard of the Church of Assumption (Virgin Mary Tomb). The remains of an oil press can be recognized in an eastern recess where an altar is presently located. Three rock pillars support the roof of the cave on its southern side. It had a lighting opening in its roof.  It was paved in white mosaics, damaged by 42 tombs cut below. The graves date to the 5th-8th c. and it was used also under the Crusaders. Some fragment of screen plates were uncovered, as well as funerary inscriptions and many graffiti. 

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Illustrative material: 
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Detailed description
Architectural Evolution
Dating material: 

The Cave is mentioned to the left of the road ascending the Mount of Olives already in 4th c. sources (see the Literary Sources section). 

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Century: 
4th c.
Within century: 
Second half