ʻAnab el-Kabir (Khirbet ʻAnab) - Church

Vertical tabs

Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

ʻAnab el-Kabir (Khirbet ʻAnab)

Identification:

The site is identified as the village ʻAnab ('Ανάβ), in the territory of Eleutheropolis (Eusebius, On. 26:8). TIR: 62. The church, built at some distance from a village, served perhaps as a religious center for local population, farmers and maybe also monks, not only for the villagers.

Church name:

Church

Functional Type:

Parochial

Church type:

Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

193.05

589.17

Coordinates, ICS system:

143.05

1,089.20

Location:

Village/Town

Geographical region:

Judean Hills

Topographical location:

On top of a mountainous ridge (610 m a.s.l.), in the southwestern Hebron Hills. The church was built at some distance from a village. North of

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

24 km south of Eleutheropolis (Beit Govrin)

Distance from nearest settlement:

4.8 km from modern ed-Daheriya, 300 m east of Kh. 'Anab el-Kabir

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Eleutheropolis

Source of knowledge

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Mosiac inscription mentioning a priest by the name of Ulpianus/Olpianus, in the bema.
2	Syriac mosaic inscription containing invocations on behalf of the priests Haninah and Girgun, in the bema.
3	Mosaic building inscription mentioning several church officials, in the nave.
4	Invocation of the Lord on behalf of Samuel the mosaic layer, in front of the altar.
5	Invocation of the Lord on behalf of Thomas the mosaic layer, in front of the altar.
6	Invocation of the Lord on behalf of Theophanes the mosaic layer, in front of the altar.
7	Building inscription including a quote from Psalm and an invocation, in the narthex.
8	Dated six-line mosaic building inscription of John the Bishop, in the atrium, 556/571/586.
9	Signature of Job (?), carved on the bottom of a small marble column.

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Guerin	1860s
Conder, Kitchener	1874
Petrie	1880s
Kochavi	1967/8
Shkolnik, Tarkhanova	2018

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Magen, Peleg, Sharukh	1997-8

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The well preserved basilical church comprised of an atrium, a narthex, a prayer hall, an external apse and a northern wing that included a chapel and a baptistery. The whole ecclesiastical complex measured 38x20 m; the dimensions of the domus without the chancel measured 13.20x12.50 m. The basilica with the narthex was built in the 6th century CE, the northern wing and the atrium were added in the 7th century CE. The basilical hall was divided into three aisles by five columns in each row, with intercolumnia of 1.90 m. Two pilasters were attached to the eastern wall, on both sides of the apse, and two other to the western wall. The two easternmost columns were included in the chancel, supporting the screen panels with the carved slots in their sides. The colonnades supported arches, whose voussoirs were found in the debris. Their height of the arcades was 4.50 m.

On the east the chancel had protruding hemispherical apse flanked by the dead-ends of the lateral aisles. The bema was extended north to include the last bay of the aisle.

The floors were mosaic paved, bearing geometric patterns enclosing zoomorphic images (in the nave), defaced by iconoclasm during the Early-Islamic period. The mosaics of the early phase are of a higher quality than those of the later one. The plastered interior walls were adorned with frescoes. Architectural members were also preserved, including column shafts, bases, capitals, details of the chancel screen. Some of them were found in secondary use in the mosque of Qasr 'Unab el-Kabir, which was built ca. 0.5 km east of the site.

In the Early Islamic and Mamluk periods the atrium was rebuilt: some new walls were added. The lateral openings leading from narthex to the church were blocked.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Atrium:

Before the atrium was erected in the second phase, the was an open courtyard with the cistern in front of the church. The atrium measures 19.8 X 13.3 m. The atrium was entered from the north through an entrance hall (5 X 4 m). The central courtyard (13.5 X 8.2 m) of the atrium was surrounded from the north, west and south by several service rooms. In the center of the courtyard there is a large water cistern, carved in the bedrock. It was topped by a certain circular construction, which wasn't preserved, except of the borders, marked out by the mosaic floor abutting it. Under the floor of the atrium there is a drainage system that collected water from the roof of the church into the water cistern (D of the mouth 1 m). The channel, which collected the water, terminated in a settling pit of the square shape (0.62x0.65x0.55 m; for filtering of the water), which was connected with the cistern through three ceramic pipes (8 cm in diameter). The courtyard is paved in a crud white mosaic floor. At the eastern part of the atrium, near the entrance to the narthex, a long intact Greek inscription was uncovered, dating the construction of the atrium to 571 or 586 CE. A stone bench (W278; 3.20x0.40 m, 0.40 m high) was built adjoining to the inner side of the courtyard wall W282.

Narthex:

The narthex belongs to the first phase. It measures 13 X 2.8 m. The narthex was entered from the atrium through three arched entrances, 2 m wide each. In the Early Islamic period the two lateral entrances were blocked. Three doorways lead from the narthex to the prayer hall. The central entrance is 1.25 m wide. The two lateral entrances are 0.85 m wide. In the northwest corner of the narthex adjoining the wall W235 there was a five-stepped staircase (W231; 3.10x1.05 m; preserved height of it - 1.11 m; height of each step is ca. 0.20 m) that leaded to a second story, atop the northern wing. The third step was wider and reached 1.25 m, and it had a square depression (6x6 cm) on the eastern edge, intended probably for the wooden railing. Between the central and northern doorways, adjoining to the W223, there was a bench (W249), measuring 2.12x0.38 m, 0.30 m high (its southern edge was higher than the northern; headrest (?)). It was built from limestone ashlars over the mosaic floor and plastered. The narthex floor is paved in white mosaic with a colorful carpet in its center. Near the central entrance to the prayer hall there is a Greek inscription, which dates the construction of the narthex to 556 or 571 CE. At the southern end of the narthex there was a tomb (2x0.48x0.73 m), covered with stone slabs.

Façade and entries:

All the entrances were asymmetrically located. The main and the only one entrance to the complex from the outside was located in the northern wall of the atrium (W222), opposite the road leading to the church. it was ca. 2.4 m wide. Its threshold and jambs were partially preserved. Into the arched central courtyard of the atrium two entrances led from the north, three entrances led from the west. On the southern side there were no entrances. The courtyard was comprised from three tribelons (tribelon is a wall opened with three arched doorways; rare form of entrances in Israel) on all sides, except of the western. The arches were leaning on two columns (imprints of the bases were preserved) in the center and on two pillars integrated into the walls on the lateral sides. On the southern side there was a stylobate between the columns. Specially important was the tribelon of the eastern side: three arched doorways (2.20-2.45 m wide), disposed between the north and south wall sections (W280, W235; two pillars between them), led from the atrium to the narthex. From the narthex to the domus led three main entrances, to every aisle. The central doorway was 1.25 cm wide, the lateral entrances were 0.85 cm wide. The domus was connected to the northern wing with one entrance. The ancillary doorways were 0.80-0.90 m wide. On some of the thresholds the round sockets for the doors were preserved (diameter 5 cm; depth 5 cm). In the eighth century CE the majority of the doorways were blocked. Only the main of them were still used (one entrance from the outer side, one entrance to the lateral wing of the atrium, one entrance to the narthex and one to the northern wing).

Lateral walls:

The walls of the first phase are built of ashlars from the outer face and small field stones and mortar from the inner face; coated with plaster. The walls preserved to a height of 1.5 m (in the apse). In comparison with the first phase, the building of the second phase (atrium and northern wing) was more sloppy. The technique is a variation of the rural emplekton: two faces of stones with the fill of small fieldstones and dirt between them. The average width of the later walls is 0.65-0.80 m; preserved to a height from one to three courses (0.30-0.60-0.85 m). The inner surface of the walls was coated with fine plaster. The walls of the northern wing were built from two faces of ashlars and were preserved up to two courses (0.90 m), though the width was larger than in the other parts of the church due to the second story upon them (1 m wide).

Nave:

The prayer hall measures 13.2 X 12.5 m. The inner walls of the prayer hall were coated with fine plaster. Remains of colored plaster suggest that the walls were adorned with frescoes. The nave measures 12.55 X 6 m. It is separated from the aisles by two rows of five columns, standing on square stone platforms. The nave is paved in high quality mosaic carpet (12.30x5.80 m) adorned with complicated guillouches with the inserted into their segments zoomorphic motifs (defaced). In front of the bema, in the easternmost part of the mosaic floor three short Greek inscriptions were laid, devoted to three mosaic masters. One more, much longer and located near by, mentioned the local chorepiskopi and priests.

Aisles:

The northern aisle measures 12.7 X 2.95 m. It is paved with a mosaic floor. The doorway in the western part of the northern wall of the aisle that led to the adjacent chapel is attributed by the excavators to the second phase, but seemingly it was original. In the east, beyond the colorful mosaic carpet, the aisle ended with a step but no wall enclosing a pastophorium was uncovered. Perhaps the area behind the step was enclosed behind a curtain. So it seems that both aisle had dead-ends on the east. At a later stage, a bench was built on the mosaic floor at the end of the aisle, near its end. The southern aisle measures 12.7 X 3.15 m. It is paved with a mosaic floor with floral motifs. Here as well no wall enclosing a pastophorium was uncovered, but the fact that the mosaic carpet doesnot continue, suggest a separate zone, perhapse enclosed behind a curtain. At a later stage, a bench was built on the mosaic floor. In both aisles there were depressions laid with the tesserae for the collecting of the water.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

The U-shaped chancel screen measures 6.6 X 3.1 m. It was raised on two steps (0.5 m) above the floor of the nave. The floors of the pastophoria were also raised to the same height, with the steps lying on the same line, as the steps of the central bema area (between the apse and the nave). A passage in the north west corner of the chancel screen suggests that there was an ambo that did not survived. The chancel screen have two lateral openings, which connected the bema with the pastophoria. The front openings haven't preserved. The apse was maximum 5.5 m in diameter (width 0.90 m). It had a horse-shoe shape inside and polygonal outside. Each segment of the polygonal shape (1.20 m) was constructed not with a monolith ashlar, but from several medium sized ashlars, so that this shape was caused not by the technical peculiarities, but by the intentional architectural planning. The walls were built from two ashlar faces and a fill between them. Preserved to a height of three courses (1.30 m). The bema and apse were paved with a colored mosaic that only partially preserved.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	The ceramic assemblage dated from the beginning of the 6th century until the Early Islamic period in the 8th century.
Glass	The assemblage includes bowls, chalices, bottles, lamps and pieces of broken window glass. All the types dated to the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.
Metal objects	Bronze cross shaped pendant (found in the burial chamber outside the church), rings, segment of chain and iron nails. Derived from the church and burial cave.
Coins	Three coins were found in the church. The earliest one dating to the reign of Constans I (337-339 CE). Another one dates to the 6th century and the latest one, Post-Reform Umayyad, dating to the 8th century.
Oil lamps	Intact Abbasid lamp
Inscription - see under epigraphy	Greek and Syropalestinian inscriptions found in the church on the mosaic floor
Other	13 beads were found, mainly in the burial chamber. They were made from glass (round, cylindrical, square, etc.), deriving from the neckless.

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Comments, discussion and summary:

The cistern was connected not only with the basin for filtering of the water, but also with the basin outside the atrium, intended for the collecting of overflow. The cistern was unusually large for the ecclesiastical complex, though such quantity of water could be needed for baptismal fonts (two in the complex). Probably, this church mainly functioned for the baptism (the structure of the baptismal northern gallery is very well developed). The cistern was used even after the church was deserted. In the vicinity of the church a burial locus, a wine and oil press were found.

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Atrium:

Yes

Water cistern:

Yes

Narthex:

Yes

Aisles:

Colonnades / Arcades:

Arcade of columns

Number of nave columns in a row:

Total	Extant in S	Extant in N
10	5	5

Capital types:

Corinthian

East end:

External apse, round

Church Head/Chevet:

dead end aisles (mon-aps III)

Central Apse Category:

apsidal

Bema type:

U shaped with two lateral openings

Elevation of Bema above nave:

2 steps up

Ambo:

Yes

Ambo remains:

indicated by screen

Ambo location:

Apse elevation:

Flush with the bema

Apse shape:

Horse-shoe shape

Synthronon:

Pastophoria

Pastophoria loci:

N & S

Description and function of northern:

The northern pastophorium measures 3.2 X 2.2 m. Its floor is ca. 0.4 m higher than the floor of the prayer hall. The floor is paved in white mosaic.

Description and function of southern:

The southern pastophorium is identical to the northern one in size and shape.

Burial loci

Burials loci:

At the southern end of the narthex, beneath the floor, 0.75 m below its level, there was a tomb (2x0.48x0.73 m), covered with stone slabs. In the central slab the hole was covered, indented for the pouring of the oil/water, venerating the holy relics. Most probably, the tomb predated the church with the narthex, as its the lines of its walls do not coincide with the direction of the church walls. The tomb yielded the remains of at least two adults, one of whom was about 50 years old. A separate burial cave was found in the northern vicinity of the church. Probably, it was intended for locals. A rectangular opening (1.70x1.10 m) leaded to the burial chamber (5.40x4.50 m, 1.70 m high). Its ceiling was flat. The chamber consisted of seven rectangular cist graves, arranged into two rows (lengths fluctuated from 1.50 to 2 m; widths fluctuated from 0.55 to 1.05 m; depth equal: 0.60 m).

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Baptism

Loci:

The baptismal font from the first phase of the church was found outside the building, to the north of it. It was carved from the large and monolith piece of stone (120 cm in diameter, 80 cm high). Its external borders were circular, while the central installation was quadrifoil (80 cm in diameter, 64 cm deep; 20 cm thickness of the walls). Its original location is not known.

Font structure:

Monolithic

External shape:

circular

Internal shape:

quadrifoil

Ben-Pechat type:

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Upper galleries

Upper galleries:

above n aisle

Attached structures

Annex/es on the north:

In the second phase a northern wing was erected along the church's northern wall. The inner dimensions of this wing are 19.1 X 4.3 m. It includes a chapel on the east and a baptistery on the west. Apparently, the chapel had a second story, to which led the staircase from the narthex.

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:

Simple rectangular room

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:

In the second phase a northern wing was erected along the church's northern wall. The inner dimensions of this wing are 19.1 X 4.3 m. It includes a prothesis chapel on the east (11.70x 4.30m) and a baptistery on the west. Stairs uncovered in the NW corner of the narthex might had led to an upper floor above this wing. The eastern unit of the chapel (4.40x3.90m) was 1 step (0.35 m) higher in comparison to the hall to its west. It served as the chapel's bema, measuring 4.4 X 3.9 m. The floor of the room was paved with a white mosaic floor surrounding a colorful rectangular carpet. The central room measured 7.8 X 4.3 m and was paved with a mosaic floor of three carpets with a more elaborate patterns. An opening near its SW corner permitted access from the northern aisle. In a later subphase benches were laid over the mosaic floors against the northern and the southern walls.

Baptistery:

Simple rectangular room

Baptistery description:

The baptismal font of the second phase of the church was located in the western unit of the northern annex, to the west of the prothesis chapel. (As a matter of fact, the entire wing could also serve as a baptismal chapel). This western unit, 4.3 X 6.4 m in dimensions, was separated from the central hall by a screen with a central passage. It held a baptismal font. The baptismal hall was paved with a white mosaic floor and raised ca. 0.4 m above the floor of the chapel's hall. The baptismal font was looted, only its imprints were left. These permit to reconstruct the shape of the font - octagonal with concave facets on the outside and cruciform on the inside.

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Abandonment

General outline:

The excavators suggest two stages: in the first, the basilica and the narthex were built and paved. The basilica has an external apse.

Dating material:

6th c. The mosaic floors and other finds give a 6th c. date of construction, under Justinian.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

First half

General outline:

In the second phase, the north wing and the atrium were added. The mosaic inscriptions in the nave, narthex and atrium mention mosaicists, clergy and two bishops associated with laying down the mosaics. Bishop John, mentioned in the atrium inscription, seems to be different than the bishop mentioned in the nave inscription (the proper name of whom was not preserved), since the clergy mentioned with both are different. This may indicate that the atrium (and perhaps only its mosaic floor) was built in a later stage. According to another opinion (Patrich 2006, 369), the northern wing is just structurally later than the basilica, not chronologically, so that the annexed chapel and the baptistery are contemporary with the basilica. V. Michel (2004, 18), is also of the opinion that the northern wing is original and was not added in a second stage.

Dating material:

Inscriptions in the nave and the atrium.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Late

General outline:

Iconoclastic defacements of the mosaic floor and alterations made in the atrium.

Dating material:

First half of the 8th century.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

First half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Yes

Iconoclastic evidence comments:

The figurative depictions in the mosaics - birds and animals - were mutilated by iconoclasts, but the floors were immediately repaired, indicating that Christian occupation continued after this event.

Dating material:

The complex was seemingly destroyed in the earthquake of 749.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

Mid

Post Arab conquest history:

Modified

Conclusions:

Erected in the 6th c., under Justinian. The excavators suggest two stages: in the first the basilica and the narthex were built and paved, and in the second – the north wing and the atrium. The mosaic inscriptions in the nave, narthex and atrium mentioning mosaicists, clergy and two bishops associated with laying down the mosaics. Bishop John, mentioned in the atrium inscription, seems to be different than the bishop mentioned in the nave inscription (the proper name of whom was not preserved), since the clergy mentioned with both are different. This may indicate that the atrium (and perhaps only it's mosaic floor) was laid in a later stage. It was suggested (Patrich 2006), that the northern wing is just structurally later than the basilica, not chronologically, so that the annexed chapel and the baptistery are contemporary with the basilica. V. Michel (2004, 18), is also of the opinion that the northern wing is original and was not added in a second stage. The complex was seemingly destroyed in the earthquake of 749. The figurative depictions in the mosaics - birds and animals - were mutilated by iconoclasts, but the floors were immediately repaired, indicating that Christian occupation continued after this event (Magen et al. Qadmoniot 125 [2003], Hebrew).

Guérin, V., 1869
Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883
Petrie, W. M. F., 1891
Thomsen, P., 1907
Abel, F. M., 1933
Kochavi, M., 1972‎
Avi-Yonah, M., 1976
Avi-Yonah, M., 1984
Ovadiah, A. and De Silva, C. G., 1981
Safrai, Z., 1985-1986
Schwartz, J., 1986
Baruch, Y., 1999
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994
Bagatti, B., 2002
Magen, Y., Peleg, Y. and Sarukh, I., 2003
Michel, V., 2004	16-19
Patrich, J., 2006	369
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012
Magen, Y., Peleg, Y. and Sharukh, I., 2012
Di Segni, L., 2012
Bar-Asher, M., 2012