ʻAbud - Greek Orthodox church of Setti Miriam; al-'Abudiyah
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
ʻAbud
Identification:
The site name is variously written ‘Âbûd; ‘Abūd; el-‘Abūd; A’boud. According to Taha (1997), it was dedicated to St. Mary only i the Middle Ages, when the village was named Casale Santa Maria.
Church name:
Greek Orthodox church of Setti Miriam; al-'Abudiyah
Functional Type:
Parochial
Dedication:
St. Miriam
Church type:
Basilical - Annex\es on N & S
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
206.60
658.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
156.60
1,158.10
Geographical region:
Southern and Western Samaria
Topographical location:
A mountain slope.
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
30 km from Jerusalem.
Distance from nearest settlement:
Part of the settlement of 'Abud.
Distance from Roman roads:
Overlooking the ancient road between Aphek-Antipatris and Jericho.
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Source of knowledge
Epigraphy:
Epigraphy
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Taha, H. | 1997 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
Basilica with a narthex and two annexes on the N and S, altogether 22.8X14.5m in dimensions. According to Pringle (1993), the Mediaeval church was built on the foundations of the Early Christian one. Its walls can be seen 4m underneath the top level of the present church. The basilical church was14.30x14.15m in dimensions (extrnal). It had three openings on the west and other two on the north and south. The northern annex was excavated by Taha.
Description
Illustrative material:
Atrium:
Four stairs led up from the atrium to the exonarthex.
Narthex:
The exonarthex was open to the atrium by two columns within antae.
Façade and entries:
The lintel of the main entrance is decorated with two rossests and a cross inside a circle (Carmin, 2012).
Nave:
The southern row of 5 columns is attributed to the original, Byzantine structure. The second and fourth columns were integrated into the later pilasters. These limestone columns are monolithic and bear Ionic and Corinthian apitals (Carmin, 2012)
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
An external apse, 2 m deep and 4 m. in diameter. The chancel extended across the entire width of the church.
Lateral spaces:
Small internal niches flanking the apse.
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Pottery | Pottery from the Byzantine period till the Mamluk-Ottoman period were found. |
Glass | Glass vessels were found in the graves north of the church. |
Coins | Coins were found in the graves north of the church. |
Metal objects | A knife was found in one of the graves north of the church. |
Jewelry | Beads, rings, necklace, bracelets and earrings were found in the graves north of the church. |
Other | A shoe was found in one of the graves north of the church. |
Oil lamps | Late Byzantine lamps were found in the graves north of the church. |
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Narthex:
Yes
Aisles:
2
Colonnades / Arcades:
Colonnade
Number of nave columns in a row:
| Total | Extant in S |
|---|---|
5 | 5 |
Capital types:
Ionic
Corinthian
East end:
External apse, round
Church Head/Chevet:
tri-apsidal (central external, lateral internal)
Central Apse Category:
apsidal
Apse shape:
Hemispherical
Synthronon remains:
grades
Synthronon location:
Against the apse
Lateral Apses Function
Location:
N & S
Northern apse description and function:
A small internal apse.
Southern apse description and function:
A small internal apse.
Attached structures
Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:
Quadrangular chapel
Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:
The two units northern annex, mosaic paved, might have been an annexed chapel.
Architectural Evolution
| Phase name (as published) | General outline | Dating material | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Strata V (according to Taha) | The general plan of the church and five columns of the southern aisle are attributed to this phase. This early phase is also recognized in the northern annex, rectangular in shape and comprising of two units and a mosaic pavement. Two sub phases can be identified here. In the first the northern wall was constructed and then the partition walls were built and the mosaic pavement was placed.
The four rooms: 1- only a section was excavated in it a 90X80 cm strip of mosaic in the north-east corner. A well-dressed threshold leads to room 2- 5X2.3 m; the mosaic is preserved in the northern part only. 3- 2.65X2.1 m; the floor is 29 cm higher than the previous rooms. The later buttress wall is built directly on top of the mosaic. 4- 5.4X4.1 m; the floor is 20 cm higher than room 3, the room is covered in a well preserved mosaic
| The capitals style suggest a 5-6 century date. | Phase 1 | 5th-6th c. |
Strata IV (according to Taha) | The Byzantine-Mediaeval debris of the church were recognized only in the northern annex. The Mediaeval church was rebuilt no earlier than the 11th c. | Pre-mediaeval. | Abandonment | 7th c? |
Post Arab conquest history:
Ceased to function
Post conquest history comments:
The debris found in the northern annex indicates that this part of the church was destroyed during the seventh century.