Jerusalem (Extra mural) - Virgins (?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Jerusalem (Extra mural)

Monastery name:

Virgins (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Urban

Pilgrims

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

222,537.00

631,468.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

172,533.00

131,467.00

Geographical region:

Jerusalem (extra-mural)

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Hillside

Soils:

limestone

Source of knowledge

Literary sources

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Mazar B.	1968-1977

Bibliograpy:

Mazar, E., 1999
Stiebel, G., 2003	153-58
Mazar, E., 2003
Di Segni, L., 2007	35-36
Gordon, B., 2007	79-87
Barash, I. and Tchekhanovets, Y., 2023

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

The identification of the site as a monastery is contested. See Barash and Tchekhanovets, 2023

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The entire complex was uncovered. The state of preservation was very good with walls remaining to a height of over two meters in some places.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Monastery of the Virgins - reconstruction (mazar 1999:18).

Monastery of the Virgins- plan of the basement, first phase (Mazar 1999: 20)

Monastery of the Virgins- plan of the ground floor, first phase (Mazar 1999: 21).

Monastery of the Virgins- plan of the ground floor, second phase (Mazar 1999: 21).

General description

Enclosing walls:

The complex was surrounded by walls on all four sides.

Gate/s:

The complex had three entrances in its first phase, one on the north, directly into the chapel (upper floor), and two entrances on the ground floor: the main entrance on the south side and a second on the northern end of the west facade. In the second phase only one entrance remained- on the south side and at a higher level.

Courtyards:

The complex had several courtyards: a courtyard at the southern (main) entrance; a central courtyard (4.6 x 5.6 m); a secondary courtyard that served as an antechamber at the northern entrance. In the second phase, only the central courtyard remained.

Churche/s:

The chapel was located on the second story which did not survive. Liturgical furniture pointed to its existence.

Dwellings:

Apparently the dwellings were on the second story which did not survive.

Refectory:

West of the central courtyard was a room paved with mosaic, this may have served as the refectory.

Burials:

A cave (partially natural and partially hewn- see below Caves) may have served the monastery for burial. An ossuary, dated to the Second Temple period and in secondary use, was discovered, in situ, in a small niche (1.6 x 1.7 m) containing the skull of an adult. It was probably used as a reliquary for the remains of some hallowed personage of the monastery.

Storage facilities:

A small room, east of the kitchen, may have served as a storeroom.

Cave/s:

The monastery was constructed over earlier remains. A natural cave that had been enlarged by hewing. The walls were only partially hewn. The ceiling was hewn into a flat rectangle (2.7 x 4.8 m). Wide benches were carved into the northern and western walls about 0.5 m above the floor. Mazar surmised that the chamber may have been used as a burial chamber in the monastery.

Kitchen:

The kitchen was accessed from the central courtyard, opposite the mosaic paved room (refectory?). The kitchen was identified by the oven found in its corner. According to the excavator, the kitchen served as a public kitchen in the second phase.

Baking oven:

The oven was located in the kitchen (see above).

Water installations:

The complex has two cisterns. One is located beneath the northern courtyard, by the northern entrance. The second cistern is located beneath the room to the south of the northern courtyard. Channels led water to the cisterns from various parts of the structure.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	A large assemblage of pottery dated to the Byzantine period: deep, thin-walled bowls; cooking casserole with lid; jugs and juglets, often with incised lines; storage jars (the most common type had a sack-shaped ribbed body); hole mouth jar with a perforated drain around the neck; "thermos-jug".
Oil lamps	All the lamps found at the site were made in molds. Slipper lamps, decorated with a palm branch were the most common.
Metal objects	Several crosses were found which had been attached to doors (one was a large cross- 65 cm long and 42 cm wide); copper clasps and a lock shaped like a schematic basilica, apparently belonging to a wooden box; lamp with a lid; small incense bowl hung by a chain; fragment of a multi-armed light fixture with a snake-like body; complete hearth with legs shaped like animal legs and paws.
Other	A fragment of a clay pilgrim's medallion (10 cm diameter). The medallion bears an inscription.
Stone vessels	An ossuary in secondary use and fragments of a second ossuary.
Metal objects	Military equipment: a knife, the ambo of a shield, a sword, a hilt and a pickax.
Bones	An human skull in an ossuary in secondary use as a reliquary.

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Monastery of the Virgins- a bronze hearth (Mazar 1999: 42).

Monastery of the Virgins - a bronze lamp with a lid and a high stand (Mazar 1999: 30).

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Size class
Small

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
unknown			Upper floor

Refectory

Number of stories:

Storage facilities – warehouses

Kitchen

Baking oven

Tombs type:

Burial chamber

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

First phase

General outline:

The complex is almost square (17.3 x 19.7 m) with wings surrounding a central courtyard. In this phase the building had three stories (basement, ground floor and a second floor). The basement contained a rock-hewn cave that served as the crypt of the monastery, and a shop. The ground floor (main) consisted of service rooms and the second floor, which did not survive, probably contained the chapel and dwellings.

Dating material:

Second half of fourth century CE to mid-sixth century.

Phase date

Century:

4th c.

Within century:

Second half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Phase name (as published):

Second phase

General outline:

The complex was subdivided into three units. Two entrances were sealed, the southern part of the structure was converted into shops. The Ground floor was divided. The central part remained part of the monastery and a wall separated this part from the northern part which was used as a public soup kitchen. A window connected these two parts. The second floor probably continued to serve the monastery.

Dating material:

Based on the architecture and a coin of Justinian I (538-542 CE).

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Mid

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

General outline:

The monastery was destroyed during the Persian invasion of 614 CE, and abandoned.

Dating material:

Based on the signs of conflagration and the remains of weapons found in the ruins.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

First half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned