12691 - Baḥan - ST. STEPHEN

Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Baḥan

Church name:

ST. STEPHEN

Functional Type:

Monastic

Dedication:

St. Stephen

Church type:

Basilical

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

202.17

694.98

Coordinates, ICS system:

152.17

1,195.00

Geographical region:

Sharon

Distance from nearest settlement:

The site is located on the grounds of Kibbutz Bahan, ca. 4.5 km northeast of Tulkarm.

Distance from Roman roads:

Near the ancient road between Caesarea and Shechem-Neapolis.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy:

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Long one-line mosaic building inscription in the western part of the nave.
2	Seven-line mosaic commemorative inscription of Porphyrius and Marcus within a medallion, in the south side of the nave.
3	Fragmenrary commemorative (?) mosaic inscription set in a tabula ansata, in the south side of the nave.
4	Mosaic inscription with Psalm quotation within a rhomboid frame, in the nave.
5	Mosaic commemorative inscription mentioning Stephen the protomartyr, in the lower (earlier) pavement of the southern aisle.

Archaeological remains

Bibliograpy:

Yeivin, S. and Ory, J., 1955

Ovadiah, A., 1970

Ovadiah, A. and de Silva, C. G., 1982

Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

Partially excavated basilical church (20 X 13 m) with narthex and apparently an atrium with water cistern. The basilica was probably a part of a monastery since south of it a series of rooms were found.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Atrium:

The atrium itself was not excavated. A water cistern west of the narthex apparently belonged to the church atrium.

Narthex:

The narthex measures 13 X 3.3 m and is paved with mosaic floor with geometric patterns.

Lateral walls:

The walls are 0.6 - 0.7 m thick.

Nave:

The nave, 6.8 m wide, is separated from the aisles by two rows of columns (the number of columns in each row is not clear). The nave had two layers of mosaic floors. The upper one included geometric motifs, while the lower one contained floral motifs and animal figures that beer signs of iconoclasm. Four Greek inscriptions inlaid into the mosaic floor of the nave.

Aisles:

The aisles are 3.5 m wide each. The southern aisle, like the nave, had two layers of mosaic floors. On the lower mosaics one Greek inscription was found. Small segments of mosaic were also observed in the northern aisle.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

The bema was not found. The apse was apparently internal, rounded. Only its southern part was exposed. The apse is approx. 4.8 m deep and 6 m wide.

Lateral spaces:

Series of rooms south of the basilica.

Small finds

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Atrium:

Yes

Water cistern:

Yes

Narthex:

Yes

Aisles:

2

East end:

Internal apse

Central Apse Category:

apsidal

Altar remains:

no remains

Ambo:

No

Apse shape:

Hemispherical

Synthronon:

No

Architectural Evolution

General outline	Dating material	Iconoclastic evidence	Phase no.	Century
Basilical church with internal apse, narthex and atrium. Colorful mosaics with floral motifs, bird and animal figures. Signs of Iconoclasm.	The church is dated to the sixth century on base of the mosaic style.	Yes	Phase 1	6th c.
As in phase 1. New mosaic floors with geometric motifs.	No dates are given.	No	Phase 2	6th-7th c.
	No dates are given.		Abandonment	Unknown