Shiloh - The Basilica Church

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Shiloh

Church name:

The Basilica Church

Functional Type:

Parochial

Church type:

Basilical - Free standing basilica

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

227.59

662.32

Coordinates, ICS system:

177.81

1,162.30

Location:

Village/Town

Geographical region:

Southern and Western Samaria

Topographical location:

On the southern spur of Tel Shiloh.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Samaria-Sebaste

Source of knowledge

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Invocation of the Lord on behalf of Zachariah, in the mosaic pavement of the narthex.

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
A. Schmidt	1932
Dadon	1990

Bibliograpy:

Ovadiah, A., 1970
Ovadiah, A. and de Silva, C. G., 1982
Kempinksi, A. and Finkelstein, I., 1993
Dadon, M., 1997
Dadon, M., 2012
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	159-62, no. 44
Madden, A. M., 2014	125-126

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The basilical church measured 39.6 X 15 m. Its eastern part was erected over the remains of a Second Temple period structure. The church includes an atrium, narthex, prayer hall, all paved in mosaics with floral and geometric patterns.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Atrium:

The atrium measures 13.9 X 10 m. The foundations of a stylobate were extant on three sides of the atrium. It enclosed a courtyard paved with stone slabs. The portico bordering the courtyard was paved with simple mosaics. Two short walls projecting north suggest annexed rooms on this side of the atrium. Entrance was from the west. Only two openings were preserved. The central - 2.2m wide; the northern - 1.6m wide.

Narthex:

The narthex is 13.7 X 3 m. in dimensions. Mosaic paved.

Façade and entries:

Three entrances led from the narthex into the prayer hall.

Lateral walls:

The walls were constructed of large stones (0.7 X 0.7 - 1 X 0.5 m) that were smoothened on the inner face. The outer face was coated with a thick layer of plaster.

Nave:

The nave, 20.5 X 6.6 m in dimensions, was separated from the aisles by two rows of six columns standing on stylobates 0.6 m wide. The columns were crowned by Corinthian capitals. All twelve capitals and bases (0.7x0.7m), were uncovered; one of the bases - in situ. The longest colomn fragment is 4.5m long.

Aisles:

The aisles, 20.5 X 3 m in dimensions, have dead ends on their eastern side.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

The bema-apse unit was not preserved. It seems that the apse was external.

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Atrium:

Yes

Water cistern:

Narthex:

Yes

Aisles:

Colonnades / Arcades:

Colonnade

Number of nave columns in a row:

Total
6

Capital types:

Corinthian

Church Head/Chevet:

dead end aisles (mon-aps III)

Ambo:

Apse elevation:

Flush with the bema

Synthronon:

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

General outline:

Basilical church with atrium and narthex.

Dating material:

The construction date is unclear; seemingly 5th c. However, the end of the first phase corresponds with the Samaritans revolt (529 CE), as can be inferred from a layer of ash covering the mosaic floor.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

General outline:

No architectural alternations were made. The aisle mosaics, comprising of zoomorphic and floral motives, were replaced by new mosaic floors with floral and geometric motives. In the nave the mosaic floor was not altered. Iconoclastic activity is recognized there in defacing the figures incorporated in the geometric lattice. The excavator associates this iconoclastic activity with damage caused by the Samaritan revolt; it should rather be attributed to the early 8th c.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Second half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Yes

Iconoclastic evidence comments:

The second stage mosaic floor possibly connected with repairs following the iconoclastic campaign and removing of zoomorphic and possibly also human figures from the first stage mosaic in the nave.

General outline:

The church went out of use during the 8th century, seemingly due to the 749 earthquake.

Dating material:

The Phase 2 church was destroyed in the 749 earthquack.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

Mid

Post Arab conquest history:

Modified