The Monastery


The Byzantine Monastery in the Ruins of the Palace-Fortress

המנזר הביזנטי

 

During the Byzantine period (4th- 7th centuries CE), alongside the large village at Lower Herodium, a small monastery was built in the hilltop fortress. A small capella (prayer-room) was established inside the cruciform Herodian courtyard, in the western part of the ruined Palace.
Various parts of the ruined palace, for example the circular Bathhouse chamber, were exploited as living quarters or chambers for the monks to seclude themselves; the crosses engraved on the original Herodian stones are evidence of the monastic presence during this period.
The monastery was part of the extensive Byzantine-period phenomenon in this area of the Judean desert, undoubtedly connected with the nearby Haritoun monastery. This is also another instance of a monastic presence in the fortified Herodian and Hasmonean palaces in the desert, among them Hyrcania, Qarantal and Masada.

 
 

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