Esh Sh. Nabhan; Esh Sheikh Nabḥan; Sheikh Nebhân; Sheikh Nahan - Church
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Esh Sh. Nabhan; Esh Sheikh Nabḥan; Sheikh Nebhân; Sheikh Nahan
Church name:
Church
Functional Type:
Unknown
Dedication:
Unknown
Church type:
Unknown
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
145,349.00
592,937.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
95.00
92.00
Geographical region:
Gaza strip
Topographical location:
on the southern bank of Nahal Sahaf (?)
Distance from nearest bishop-seat:
ca. 13 km to the south-west from Gaza
Distance from nearest settlement:
near the Military border Line of 1950
Distance from Roman roads:
ca. 3-4 km to the south-east from the Via Maris (segment between Gaza and Raphia) and ca. 3.4 km to the south-east from the junction to Nizzana
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Gaza
Source of knowledge
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Conder and Kitchener | 28th April, 1875 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
According to Conder and Kitchener (seems to be the only actual surveyors of the site, not available in modern times), the mosque on the tomb of sheikh was built on the foundations and using the remains of the Early-Byzantine church. The court (L. 28.60 m, axis east-west) was paved with the fine limestone slabs. There are two chambers on the NE and NW sides with the tomb of sheikh. On the southern wall there was a mikhrab, flanked by two pillars/columns (D 0.23 m, Byzantine ?), adorned with capitals (H. 0.38 m, the largest diameter of the abacus 0.43 m; decorated with deeply-carved lilies, paralleled to the capitals from the church of St. John the Baptist in Gaza; Byzantine (?)) and leaned on the bases (in situ (?), resembled the bases of the door from the same Gaza church).
Description
Small finds
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Capital types:
Composite
Altar remains:
no remains
Architectural Evolution
| Dating material | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|
The stylistic features of the architectural members | Phase 1 | Early Christian / Byzantine |
Abandonment | Unknown |
Post Arab conquest history:
Modified
Post conquest history comments:
The church was rebuilt into the memorial mosque