Beth Govrin (Eleutheropolis) - Church
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Beth Govrin (Eleutheropolis)
Church name:
Church
Functional Type:
Parochial
Dedication:
Unknown
Church type:
Basilical
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
190,152.00
612,912.00
Geographical region:
Shephelah
Topographical location:
southern part of the Crusader's castle, north of Roman amphitheater
Distance from Roman roads:
junction of roads from Jerusalem, Hebron, Ascalon, Gaza
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Eleutheropolis
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Literary sources
Epigraphy:
Epigraphy
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Robinson | 1st half of the 19th century |
Martorelli | mid of the 19th century |
Guerin | 1860s |
Conder and Kitchener | 2nd half of 19th century |
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
A. Kloner | 1982 |
History:
For the Early Christian history of Eleutheropolis see Bagatti 1972: 109-129; 2002: 127-131.
Bibliograpy:
II, 357 | |
II, 308 | |
III, 270-1 | |
I, 25 | |
95-101 | |
118-9 | |
127-131 | |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The Crusader church was built on the foundation of the Byzantine church, that dictated its dimensions. Plenty of architectural members were reused in the Medieval church. The apses of the basilica seem to be Byzantine without alterations, at least in the lower courses.
Description
Illustrative material:
Lateral walls:
Roman (large, with drafted margins) and Byzantine ashlars were reused in the Crusader's church.
Nave:
The nave of Crusaders' church was 6.5 m wide and 30 m long.
Aisles:
The aisles of Crusader's church were 5 m wide and 30 m long. Each aisle terminated with semicircular apse.
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
The central apse was wider than the lateral ones. From the outer side the central apse was protruding, polygonal.
The bema stylobate is dated to the Crusader period, but probably it repeats the Byzantine foundations. Plenty of Byzantine spolia were reused, including revetment slabs, chancel screen plates and posts.
Lateral spaces:
Perhapse apsidal, like in the Crusaders' church.
Small finds
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Aisles:
2
Colonnades / Arcades:
Colonnade
Capital types:
Corinthian
East end:
External apses, round
Church Head/Chevet:
tri-apsidal (central external, lateral internal)
Central Apse Category:
apsidal
Architectural Evolution
| Phase name (as published) | General outline | Dating material | Iconoclastic evidence | Iconoclastic evidence comments | Phase no. | Century | Within century |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Byzantine | Common observations of the architectural and decorative remains incorporated in the later Crusadrers' church. | Phase 1 | Early Christian / Byzantine | ||||
Ancient Arab period | It seems, that after 638 C.E. the city and its churches were left intact. The Martyrs of the Gaza persecutions of that year were deposited in the Trinity Church of Eleutheropolis. In 796 C.E. the city was already "laid waste, and its inhabitants carried off into captivity" (Bagatti 2002: 129-130). | Historical source | Abandonment | 8th c. | Late |
Post conquest history comments:
The church was renovated during the Crusader period, after the occupation of the city (in 1134) by Fulk of Anjou, king of Jerusalem (1131-1143), who entrusted it to the Hospitalers.