The Byzantine Churches

The Byzantine Churches of Lower Herodium

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Among the many Byzantine buildings in Lower Herodium are three churches built on the ruins of the Herodian structures; they are all of medium size, built on a basilica plan with aisles, and were originally two storeys high. They had decorated mosaic floors and a baptistery, either adjacent to the apse or in a side room, and were built between the second half of the fifth c. and the second half of the sixth c. CE.
The northern church stands on the ruins of the northern Herodian wing, and was dedicated to St. Michael, as is evident from the three inscriptions in the mosaic floor. The prayer hall is surrounded by a bench, uncommon in churches; the square portico in the pulpit area is also unusual, as opposed to the more common semicircular apse.
The middle church stands next to the Monumental Building, constructed primarily from monumental Herodian stones; its baptismal font, carved from a single monumental slab of stone, is worthy of mention.
The eastern church is at the eastern end of the ruins of the Great Palace, and although it is the least well-preserved, the meager floor remains attest to the fact that it was the most beautiful of all three. Its mosaic floor was divided by circular medallions decorated with animals (similar to the synagogue at Ma’on-Nirim, for example); only the lion has survived.
Only further excavation on a broad scale will allow for clarification of the nature of the community which dwelt at Herodium in the Byzantine period; it is currently impossible to determine whether this was a rural, monastic or other type of community.

 

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