[Rendered Node]


                    Ashdod Yam (Azotos Paralios) - Church of the Deaconesses
            
      
      Church Name, type, function
      Site Name:&nbsp;Ashdod Yam (Azotos Paralios)Church name:&nbsp;Church of the DeaconessesFunctional Type:&nbsp;UnknownDedication:&nbsp;unknownChurch type:&nbsp;Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel
      Location
      Coordinates, ITM system:&nbsp;
  
    164,676.00632,108.00  

Geographical region:&nbsp;Southern Coastal PlainTopographical location:&nbsp;Near the sea shore, 500m east of the Muslim fort.Distance from nearest bishop-seat:&nbsp;in Azotos ParaliosDistance from nearest settlement:&nbsp;In modern Ashdod, Street Har Gilboa 24 Distance from Roman roads:&nbsp;Ca. 5 km to the west from Via Maris, near the shore.Provincial affiliation:&nbsp;Palaestina IBishopric:&nbsp;Azotos
      Source of knowledge
      Epigraphy:&nbsp;Epigraphy
      Archaeological remains
      Excavated siteExcavators:&nbsp;
 NameDate 

 A. Fantalkin and S. GanorAug. 2017 
 A. FantalkinJuly-Aug. 2019, 2021 


History:&nbsp;Add to bibliography:
Habas, L. 2023. “Symbols of Faith in the Mosaic Floors of the Newly Discovered Ecclesiastical Complex at Ashdod Maritima, Israel.” Journal of Mosaic Research (16): 251–267. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.1376813

Di Segni, L., L. Bouzaglou, and A. Fantalkin. 2023. “A Recently Discovered Church at Ashdod-Yam (Azotos Paralios) in Light of Its Greek Inscriptions.” Liber Annuus 72: 399–447. https://doi.org/10.1484/J.LA.5.134545

Yaniv Darvasi, Alexander Fantalkin, Paul Brindza &amp; Amotz Agnon (2024) An early Byzantine ecclesiastical complex at Ashdod-Yam: correlating geophysical prospection with excavated remains, STAR: Science &amp; Technology of Archaeological Research, 10:1, 2360337, DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2024.2360337
Bibliograpy:&nbsp;

 Bäbler, B.  and Fantalkin, A., forthcoming 


Abbreviation for Journals and Series
      General description
      State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:&nbsp;A basilical curch with an annexed apsidal chapel and more rooms to its north.&nbsp;Mosaic paved&nbsp;with many dated memorial inscriptions, refering to burials under the bema, the northern aisle, and in the narthex. A large part of the basilica&nbsp;was destroyed in 60-70s of the 20th century CE during the building of a dwelling house. Perhaps a monastic church. Some inscription mention bishops, unknown so far. Destroyed in a conflagration attested by a layer of burnt wooden beams and roof tiles covering the floor.

      Description
      Illustrative material:&nbsp;

      
                    Illustrative_material
            
      
  Photos

  
Lateral walls:&nbsp;The walls were built from limestone ashlars and concrete. Only the lower tier was preserved. Some segments are completely lost and only imprints of the stones were left. 
Aisles:&nbsp;Two cist tombs were uncovered in the southern aisle.  
Bema, chancel screen and apse:&nbsp;No bema step in front of the apse. A masonry case for an under-altar reliquary marks the location of the altar. A cist tomb was found to its south.
Lateral spaces:&nbsp;Long dead-end aisles flanking the apse, mosaic paved.

      Small finds
      
      Detailed description
      
      Structure
      Orientation:&nbsp;Facing eastMaterials applied (walls):&nbsp;LimestoneMaterials applied (roofing):&nbsp;tilesAisles:&nbsp;2East end:&nbsp;External apse, roundChurch Head/Chevet:&nbsp;monoapsidal with open lateral rooms or spaces (mon-aps I)Central Apse Category:&nbsp;apsidalAltar reliquiarium type:&nbsp;Depression in the floor
      Pastophoria
      Description and function of northern:&nbsp;Open space - aisle dead-end, mosaic paved.
      Cult of relics
      Reliquiaries: shapes and contents:&nbsp;A masonry case for an under-altar reliquary marks the location of the altar. A cist tomb was found to its south. See photos under General Description. 
The reliquary was found empty and broken in the collapse of the church. 
See also under attached northern chapel.
      Burial loci
      Burials loci:&nbsp;Several names of deaconesses were mentioned in the Greek inscriptions, located one under the other in the eastern part of the northern aisle. The mosaic in this part is sunken, as there is a burial locus under it.
      Attached structures
      Att structures photos and planes:&nbsp;

      
                    Illustrative_material
            
      
  Photos

  
Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:&nbsp;Apsidal chapelProthesis chapel / Diakonikon description:&nbsp;An apsidal chapel is attached to the church on the north. A section along its southern wall was delineated by standing marble plates (now broken). It may mark the location of a sarcophagus. To its south there is a hole in the floor, seemingly to permit contact with an underlying relic.Burial room or chapel:&nbsp;Apsidal chapelBurial room or chapel description:&nbsp;See above - prothesis chapel, and below - Martyrs chapel.Martyrs chapel:&nbsp;Apsidal chapelMartyrs chapel description:&nbsp;See above - prothesis chapel.
A place for the cult of relics was delineated by marble screens (now entirely broken), near the SE corner of the chapel. A sarcophagus might have been located there. A circular hole in the floor enable contact with a underground relic.
      Architectural Evolution
      
 Phase name (as published)General outlineDating materialIconoclastic evidencePhase no.CenturyWithin century 

 Phase 1The earliest dated inscription is dated to 416 CE, suggesting that the basilica was built in the early 5th c. A dated inscription.
Phase 15th c.Early 
 Phase 2The northern chapel was added to the basilica some time around the mid 5th c. A small apse was installed there somewhat later. Phase 25th c.Mid 
 Phase 3More rooms were added to the west of the northern chapel in the course of the 6th c. No iconoclastic affects suggest destruction prior to the early 8th c.Epigraphy; dated inscriptions.
NoPhase 36th c. 
 A layer of burnt roof beams and plenty of roof tiles were covering the mosaic floor everywhere. Latest coins no later than 600 CE. Affects of an earthquake are also considered. Abandonment7th c.Early 


Post Arab conquest history:&nbsp;Abandoned
  
  
----------------------------------------