ʻAgur: ʻAjjur: Kh. el-ʻInab - Church
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
ʻAgur: ʻAjjur: Kh. el-ʻInab
Church name:
Church
Functional Type:
Parochial
Church type:
Basilical - Annex\es on the north
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
192.07
621.05
Coordinates, ICS system:
142.07
1,121.05
Geographical region:
Judean Hills
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
8 km (Eleutheropolis).
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Eleutheropolis
Source of knowledge
Archaeological remains
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Conder C.R., Kitchener H.H. | 1874 |
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Gofna R. | 1957 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The excavated part was mainly the southern and the eastern sections of the basilica. A part of the northern wall of the atrium, the narthex, two aisles-colonnades, a bema and an apse. A small room with a plastered floor contained a baptismal font. According to Bagatti (2002: 125-6), it adjoined the northern wall of the church; according to the NEAEHL Vol. 2 (1992), 803 (authored by Avi-Yonah and Ovadiah; Hebrew), it was adjoining on the south. The exterior dimensions of the church - 19x13 m. The plan published by Ovadiah (reproduced here at the absence of any other), seems to be wrong. See Bagatti's comment (2002: 125).
Description
Illustrative material:
Atrium:
Only a part of a northern wall of an atrium was exposed. The atrium was paved with coarse white mosaic.
Narthex:
Partialy exposed on the north.
Nave:
The nave is 7 m wide and separated from the aisles with two rows of columns (3 in the row). It was paved with mosaic with geometric motives. One column, 3m high, was standing in situ.
Aisles:
The aisles are 3 m wide.
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
The church had a semicircular external apse 2.7 m in radius. It was paved with coarse white mosaic.
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Other | A small marble sarcophagus (used apparently as a reliquary). |
Coins | 14 coins (one coin was dated to the beginning of the 5th century and the rest - to the last quarter of the 4th century). |
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Atrium:
Yes
Narthex:
Yes
Aisles:
2
Number of nave columns in a row:
| Total | Extant in N | Extant in S |
|---|---|---|
6 | 3 | 3 |
East end:
External apse, round
Church Head/Chevet:
dead end aisles (mon-aps III)
Central Apse Category:
apsidal
Ciborium:
A 1.75 m high marble column might had belonged to a ciborium, rather than to a gallery.
Apse shape:
Hemispherical
Cult of relics
Reliquiaries: shapes and contents:
Sarcophagus-like, without a lid.
Upper galleries
Galleries description:
A complete marble column 1.75 m high was found in the north aisle suggesting a possibility of a gallery above it. But it might had belonged to a ciborium.
Attached structures
Baptistery:
Simple rectangular room
Baptistery description:
A small room with a plastered floor contained a baptismal font. According to Bagatti (2002125-6), it adjoined the northern wall of the church; according to the NEAEHL Vol. 2, p. 803 (authored by Avi-Yonah and Ovadiah), it was adjoining on the south.
Architectural Evolution
| Dating material | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|
The church was dated to the end of 4th - beginning of 5th century according to the coins found in the bema area. | Phase 1 | 4th-5th c. |
Abandonment | Unknown |