13315 - Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Bethlehem

Church name:

Mausoleum of David

Functional Type:

Memorial

Dedication:

David

Church type:

Unknown

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

219.00

623.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

169.00

1,123.00

Geographical region:

Judean Hills

Distance from nearest settlement:

North of Bethlehem.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Source of knowledge

Literary sources:

HideLiterary sources

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

Eus., On.

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

p. 42, ll. 10-12

Translation:

Bethleem <Gen. 35: 19>. Of the tribe of Judah. Six miles away from Ailia on the southern side, on the Chebron road, where the tomb of Jesse and David is pointed out.

(transl. Freeman-Grenville)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography
Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P., 2003

Summary:

Entry for Bethlehem in Eusebius's Onomasticon, mentioning the tombs of Jesse and David, ca. AD 300.

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

It. Burd.

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

598, 5-9

Translation:

Two miles further on, on the left, is Bethlehem, where the Lord Jesus Christ was born; here a basilica has been built by command of Constantine. Not far away is the tomb of Ezekiel, Asaph, Job, Jesse, David and Solomon, and in this vault, on the side as one goes down, (their) names are inscribed in Hebrew characters.

(transl. Di Segni)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography	Pages
Di Segni, L. and Tsafrir, Y., 2015	no. 13

Summary:

Mention of the tombs of David and other Old Testament figures in Bethlehem, from an itinerary of ca. AD 333.

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

Petr. Diac., LS

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

L, 1

Translation:

Near Bethlehem is the pool where the Rabshakeh uttered his reproaches. The well from which David wanted water is next to the mouth of a cave, and in a valley in Bethlehem are the tombs of the kings of Judah.

(transl. Wilkinson)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography
Wilkinson, J., 1981

Summary:

Mention of the tombs of the kings of Judah in the valley in Bethlehem, presumably from a passage lost in the MS of Egeria's itinerary of AD 381-384, as recorded in a guidebook compiled 1137.

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

Hier., On.

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

p. 43, ll. 19-22

Translation:

Bethlehem. The city of David in the lot of the tribe of Judah, in which our Lord and Saviour was born, six miles from Aelia to the south, beside the road which leads to Chebron, where also the tomb of Jesse and David is shown.

(transl. Freeman-Grenville)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography
Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P., 2003

Summary:

Entry for Bethlehem from Jerome's translation of Eusebius's Onomasticon, mentioning the tombs of Jesse and David, AD 389-391.

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

AP

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

29

Translation:

Half a mile from Bethlehem, in the suburb, David's body lies buried with that of his son Solomon, and they have separate tombs. The basilica is called At Saint David. The children slaughtered by Herod also have their tomb there, and they all lie buried together. When their tomb is opened you can look at their bones.

(transl. Wilkinson)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography
Wilkinson, J., 2002

Summary:

Description of the basilica "At St David" containing the tombs of David, Solomon and the Holy Innocents, from an itinerary of ca. AD 570.

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

Adamn., LS

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

II, 4, 1-4

Translation:

ANOTHER CHURCH IN WHICH ONE SEES DAVID'S TOMB

(1) When I asked Arculf about the Tomb of King David, this was his reply: (2) "I took care to search for the Tomb where King David was laid in the earth and used to make pilgrimage to it. (3) It is in the middle of the floor of a church, and is unadorned, except for a low stone roof which protects it, and a light which always shines brightly above it. (4) This church was built outside the city wall in the valley which adjoins the hill of Bethlehem on the north."

(transl. Wilkinson)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography
Wilkinson, J., 2002

Summary:

Description of the church of David's tomb, from an itinerary of ca. AD 681-684, composed ca. 698.

Bethlehem - Mausoleum of David

Source:

Beda, LS

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Paragraph:

VII, 2-3

Translation:

(2) To the north of Bethlehem in a nearby valley is the Tomb of David in the centre of a church. It i covered with a low stone roof and has a lamp above. - - - (3) - - - I have said this following the account of Arculf Bishop of the Gauls, but Esdras <3:16> clearly writes that David was buried in Jerusalem.

(transl. Wilkinson)

Bibliografical ref.:

Bibliography
Wilkinson, J., 2002

Summary:

Concise paraphrase of Adamnan's description, from a geographical work compiled AD 702-703.

Epigraphy:

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Psalm quotation within a frame in the mosaic pavement.

Archaeological remains

Bibliograpy:

Avi-Yonah, M., 1933

Ovadiah, A. and de Silva, C. G., 1984

Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994

Schick, R., 1995

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

A mosaic containing a Greek inscription of Pslam, 117:19-20, was found about 650 m. from the Nativity Church, next to "David's Reservoirs". Located in the area of a necropolis.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Small finds

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Architectural Evolution

Dating material	Phase no.	Century
The inscriptions pattern and technique date it to the 4th -6th century. Mentioned in Pilgrim's texts.	Phase 1	Early Christian / Byzantine
Schick claimed it was in use at least up to the Umayyad period.	Abandonment	Unknown

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

Schick claimed it was in use at least up to the Umayyad period.