BETHTHER; BETHER; Battir - church (?)
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
BETHTHER; BETHER; Battir
Church name:
church (?)
Functional Type:
Funerary chapel
Church type:
Unknown
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
213.72
625.56
Coordinates, ICS system:
163.72
1,126.60
Geographical region:
Judean Hills
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Source of knowledge
Epigraphy:
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Guérin | 1860's |
Conder and Kithchener | 1860's |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
A mosaic decorated with geometric shapes, fruits and fish and contains an inscription. Dimensions: 4.65X4 m. The inscription is christian by nature and Schick believes it might be a funerary chapel.
Description
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Inscription - see under epigraphy | The mosaic contains an inscription with a date: " March of the 5th year of the indication". |
Small finds illustrative material:
Architectural Evolution
| Dating material | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|
Vincent dates the mosaic tho the second half of the 6th or the 7th century, possibly even the eighth. Avi yonah states that the design leans toward the arabesque and Sassanian. Schick doesn't agree with a late dating. | Phase 1 | 6th-7th c. |
Do to the lack of damage to the fish images in the mosaic, schick believes that structure went out of use prior to the iconoclastic damage. | Abandonment | 7th-8th c. |
Post Arab conquest history:
Abandoned
Post conquest history comments:
Based on the lack of iconclastic damage, according to Schick. According to Avi Yonah possibly Built anew