CARIATH IARIM; Deir el-'Azar - Monastery (?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

CARIATH IARIM; Deir el-'Azar

Identification:

The structure is located near the ancient Kiryat Yearim (Kiriath Jearim; Cariathiarim), an Old Testament site (Josh. 9:17, 60; 18: 14-15; I Sam. 6:21) mentioned by Eusebius (On. 48:22; 114:23).

Monastery name:

Monastery (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Pilgrims

Source of sacredness:

Old Testament site

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

20,969.00

63,522.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

15,969.00

13,522.00

Geographical region:

Judean Hills

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

On a hill.

Soils:

Limestone and terra rosa.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

11 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

0.5 km from the road that connected Jaffa-Joppa with Jerusalem.

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Guérin	1868-1869
Abel	1934

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Vincent	1907

Bibliograpy:

Guérin, V., 1869	62-71
Germer-Durand, J., 1906	286-7
Vincent, L. H., 1907	414-17
Horning, R., 1909	131
Vincent, L. H. and Abel, F. M., 1914-1926
Lauffs, M., 1915	249-302
Cooke, F. T., 1925	116
Abel, F. M., 1934	349-50
Milik, J. T., 1960	577
Ovadiah, A., 1970	18-19
Avi-Yonah, M., 1976
Wilkinson, J., 1977	163-4
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	100
Limor, O., 1998	121
Bagatti, B., 2002	173-77
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	20-21

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

Vincent, who excavated the site in the early twentieth century, unearthed a basilical church. He identified it as a monastery. This identification is disputed by Magen according to whom, the church served pilgrims on their way to the holy sites.

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

A basilical church was unearthed, no monastic remains were reported.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

General description

Courtyards:

An atrium west of the church was paved with a white mosaic adorned with crosses.

Churche/s:

The church is basilical (24.5 x 17 m) with an inscribed apse. The apse is flanked by two pastophoria. The church was paved with a mosaic featuring geometric designs and crosses.

Burials:

Tombs were located nearby, the nature of their association with the church is unknown.

Water installations:

Cisterns were found in the vicinity, the nature of their association with the church is unknown.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

An oil press was found at the site.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category
Inscription - see under epigraphy

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
basilical	Diakonikon		Ground floor

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

General outline:

A basilical church. No evidence of monastic structures.

Dating material:

Based on the finds

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Second half

General outline:

The church underwent some repairs, new mosaics were laid in the apse.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

Second half

Phase date

Century:

Unknown

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned

Post conquest history comments:

If indeed there was a monastery at the site, which is not certain, it most likely ceased to function after the Arab conquest. This supposition is based on the site functioning as a waystation on the pilgrimage route to Jerusalem. With the Arab conquest, a steep drop in the number of pilgrims would have made the waystation redundant. Drawing from the situation of other monasteries providing the same services, it is safe to assume that it no longer functioned. Schick pointed out that the church may have continued to function in the Early Islamic period up to the first half of the 11th c..