463 - Beit 'Anun (Bethennim) - Northern Church

Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Beit 'Anun (Bethennim)

Identification:

Also known as Beit 'Enun or Beit Einun. Affiliated with Beth Anoth of the Second Temple and the Roman-Byzantine period.

Church name:

Northern Church

Functional Type:

Parochial

Church type:

Basilical - Free standing basilica

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

211.99

607.84

Coordinates, ICS system:

161.98

1,107.84

Geographical region:

Judean Hills

Topographical location:

On a high hill overlooking Beit Einun.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 22 km south of Jerusalem.

Distance from Roman roads:

On the road between Aristobulias and Jerusalem.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Source of knowledge

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name
Magen

Bibliograpy:

Magen, Y., 1990

Magen, Y., 2012

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The church was opened during the building of the house. The building works hardly damaged the church. Poor preservation of the northern aisle and the apse. The southern and parts of the eastern walls were preserved to a high of 30-60 ‎cm.‎ The narthex was only partially excavated.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Narthex:

The narthex (12.6 X 4.7 m) is partially excavated. It was paved with coloured mosaics.

Façade and entries:

Three entrances led into the church hall from the narthex. The central entrance was 1.8 m wide. Two narrow side openings were later blocked (probably during the Mameluke period). Near the main entrance good quality building stones and architectural elements were found, originally belonging to the church facade.

Lateral walls:

Of the walls, only the southern and parts of the eastern were preserved to a high of 30-60 cm. They were built of hewn stones and plastered from the interior.

Nave:

The church hall (12.6 X 17.8 m.) was divided by two rows of five columns into a nave and two aisles.

Aisles:

Each aisle is 2.5 m wide. The northern aisle is almost completely destroyed, while the southern preserved better, including parts of the mosaic pavement.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

The bema measures 4.83 X 3.10 m. It was surrounded by a limestone chancel screen. It is clear that the bema undergone alternations, but the excavations of this area have note been completed. At the last phase the bema raised 55 cm. above the church floor. The apse was internal, but did not survived.

Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Metal objects	Small crosses and a bell were found in the Byzantine tombs of the crypt
Jewelry	Stone beads, which belonged to the neckless

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Atrium:

No

Water cistern:

No

Narthex:

Yes

Aisles:

2

Colonnades / Arcades:

Colonnade

Number of nave columns in a row:

Total
5

East end:

Internal apse

Church Head/Chevet:

n/a

Central Apse Category:

apsidal

Bema type:

U shaped without lateral openings

Elevation of Bema above nave:

2 steps up

Ambo:

No

Synthronon:

No

Crypt

Accessibility and description:

Beneath the church a rock-cut tomb was found. Originally, this was a Second Temple period tomb that was refitted for burial for the use of the church and might be the reason for erecting the church. The crypt has two entrances: the southern opens outside the church walls, while the western is through a passage reaching to narthex. Near the church the other tombs, containing fragments of ossuaries, were found.

Function:

Burial crypt; cult of the relics.

Crypt photos and plans:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Architectural Evolution

General outline	Dating material	Phase no.	Century	Within century
Basilical church with internal apse and crypt.	Although it is evident that the church undergone some alternation, especially in the area of the bema, the poor state of preservation allows only to refer to the later phase. It was dated on the base of the mosaic patterns and building methods to the end of the 6th century or the beginning of the 7th.	Phase 1	6th c.	Late
Most probably that the Northern church of Beit 'Enun, like the Central church, went out of use following the earthquake of 749 CE.		Abandonment	8th c.	Mid

Post Arab conquest history:

Unmodified