Sepphoris - West Church

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Sepphoris

Identification:

Built above a Roman glass workshop.

Church name:

West Church

Functional Type:

Parochial

Church type:

Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

226.37

739.85

Coordinates, ICS system:

176.37

1,239.85

Location:

Urban

Geographical region:

Lower Galilee

Topographical location:

Built west of the cardo, near the interjunction with the decumanus.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

An episcopal see from the 6th century and possibly earlier.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina II

Source of knowledge

HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Mention of a relic of the Annunciation at Diocaesarea, from an itinerary of ca. AD 570.

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Weiss	2000's

Bibliograpy:

Weiss, Z., 2010

Weiss, Z., 2003

Weiss, Z., 2021

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

A mono-apsidal basilica with a protruding poligonal apse. 40x27m in dimensions. Preserved mostly at its foundations level. Spaces attached on the north and south might had served as chapels. But they are poorly preserved.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Sepphoris, West Church, Weiss 2021, p. 141

Atrium:

Was surrounded by porticos. The complex was located in a wide piazza the mosaix floor of which was preserved in the NW corner. The atrium was two stairs higher than the atrium.

Façade and entries:

Western facade preserved below sill levels.

Aisles:

The aisles seem to be dead-end.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

Protruding, polygonal apse.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	Found on limestone block, 66X48 cm., used in secondery use not far from the remains of the church. talks of a repairs done in a building that as an apse, leah believes that the inscription does not refar to the church but a public basilica.

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

South-east; dictated by the streets grid.

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Atrium:

Yes

Water cistern:

Yes

Narthex:

Aisles:

East end:

External apse, polygonal

Church Head/Chevet:

dead end aisles (mon-aps III)

Central Apse Category:

apsidal

Attached structures

Annex/es on the north:

On the north a single elongated hall, poorly preserved.

Annex/es on the south:

Three unit annex. See below.

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:

Quadrangular chapel

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:

Three units annex was attached on the south. The largest might had been a prothesis chapel.

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

Dating material:

Based on Stratigraphic analysis of finds under the church. Built under bishop Euthropius.

Phase date

Century:

5th-6th c.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned