Un-named site (near Jericho) - AELIOTES

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Un-named site (near Jericho)

Identification:

The laura of the Aeliotes is known only from the writings of John Moschus (see Literary Sources section). The remains that were suggested as those of the laura are located ca. 4 km east-southeast of Jericho at an un-named site.

Monastery name:

AELIOTES

Monastery type:

Laura

Monastery category:

Desert

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

247,952.00

639,664.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

197,948.00

139,663.00

Geographical region:

Southern Jordan Valley

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Regio Jericho

Topographical location:

Level ground

Soils:

Marl

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

4 km (Jericho)

Distance from nearest settlement:

4 km (Jericho)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 1 km north of the road leading eastwards from Jericho.

Source of knowledge

HideLiterary sources

Text number	Summary
1	Stories of Abba Theodosius the Hesychastes, from an early 7th cent. collection of anecdotes.
2	Theodore the anchorite wishes to have a copy of the New Testament.

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Féderlin	1900
Bar Adon	1967-1968
Sion	1996

Bibliograpy:

Vailhé, S., 1900	19-48; 272-92
Federlin, L., 1903	328
Bar-Adon, P., 1972	92-149
Sion, O., 1996	252-253

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site was surveyed showing remains of a structure, apparently built around a central courtyard.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Map of cells near Jericho (Sion 1996: 256, Fig. 5)

General description

Courtyards:

The single structure noted in the survey was built around a courtyard.

Water installations:

A cistern was located in the center of what was identified as a courtyard.

Small finds

Comments, discussion and summary:

Although the remains have been identified as a monastery, there is no certainty that they can be positively identified with the Laura of Aeliotes mentioned by Moschus.

Detailed description

Components

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
No traces

Water installations:

Cisterns

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

Dating material:

The laura is mentioned only in the writings of John Moschus. He writes "Abba Anthony, hegumen and founder of the Laura of the Aeliotes, told us about...". Therefore, the founding of the monastery can be dated to the time of Moschus who lived in it for ten years towards the end of the fifth century CE.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Second half

General outline:

The monastery was probably abandoned in the first half of the seventh century, either as a result of the the Persian occupation or of the Arab conquest.

Phase date

Century:

7th c?

Within century:

First half