Culture
A magnificent 1500-year-old church, decorated with spectacular mosaic floors, was discovered in Ramat Beit Shemesh
By Itzhak Rabihiya
Who was the “Glorious Martyr” immortalized by the Greek inscription, i whose memory this magnificent church was built and later enlarged under the patronage of the Byzantine Emperor Tiberius II himself? This mystery has fixated archaeologists of the Israel Antiquities Authority for the past three years during excavations conducted in Ramat Beit Shemesh, financed by
The Ministry of Construction and Housing has invested approximately 70 million NIS in the excavations, conservation and development of archaeological parks as part of the construction of the new neighborhood, of which approximately 7 million NIS were allocated for this excavation.
Today (Wednesday), the IAA unveils the finds to the public in a new exhibition - “The Glorious Martyr,” in collaboration with the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem (BLMJ).
Archaeological excavations revealed remains of an impressive Byzantine church founded some 1,500 years ago. The church was adorned with spectacular mosaics intricately designed with leaves, fruit, birds, and geometrical elements. The walls of the church were decorated with colorful frescoes and lofty pillars crowned with impressive capitals, some of which may have been imported.
The excavations exposed an architectural complex spread over 1.5 dunams. Excavations in the center of the site revealed a church built according to a basilica plan – an elongated structure lined with two rows of columns that divided the internal space into three sections – a central nave flanked by two halls. A spacious courtyard (atrium) was found just outside the church’s entrance.
The primary stage of the church’s construction occurred during the reign of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century CE (527-565). Later, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius II Constantine, an exquisite side chapel was added. A fascinating inscription found intact in the courtyard dedicated the church to a “glorious martyr.”
According to Benjamin Storchan, director of excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "the martyr’s identity is not known, but the exceptional opulence of the structure and its inscriptions indicate that this person was an important figure. Storchan adds, “Only a few churches in
According to Storchan, the site’s importance is affirmed by the expansion carried out under the patronage of Emperor Tiberius II Constantine (574-582 CE). A Greek inscription discovered at the site states that the expansion of the church was completed with his financial support. “Numerous written sources attest to imperial funding for churches in
The Archaeological excavation of the site was mostly performed by thousands of teenagers, who came to dig as part of the IAA's educational vision- aiming to connect Israeli youth to their haritage. The teens came to dig as part of their national service and IDF preparation programs, or through their high schools- as part of Israeli studies Large groups of Mashatsim - Young Shelach Leaders, also participated at this dig, alongside teenagers from the Beit Shemesh vicinity who came for a summer job. They all earned a unique experience, were exposed to the history of our land, performed hard physical labor and practiced team work. Most of the significant finds at the dig were discovered by these teens, who have learned that hard work pays.
Excavations revealed thousands of objects, and what appears to be the most complete collection of Byzantine glass windows and lamps ever found at a single site in
Amanda Weiss, Director General of the
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