Discovered and reconstructed in 1930s by a team of Danish archaeologists, the current building stands on top of the 4th century CE Byzantine remains. Situated about 90 meters away from the southern hillside. A mosque was built on the west side of the ruins, and was named "Mosque of the Forty" (Arabic: "Jamia el Arbain").
Byzantine era basilica at Khirbat e Seilun, located near the al-Yetimi Masjid. It is one of the earliest churches ever to be excavated in Israel was recently discovered in the archeological site of Tel Shilo
circa 350 CE
The reconstructed basilica as seen from the south. The discovery of the Tel Shiloh church was accidental as a result of rainwater seeping into the ancient basilica. Consequently a drainage chanel was dug which exposed three mosaics that had been incredibly preserved.
circa 350 CE
Central nave, the design of the church is basilical, composed of a nave and two aisles, 12 bases and 2 Corinthian capitals. The roof once was covered by rafters that supported the tiles. The columns and the lower side of the walls are original, and most of the floor mosaics are original. The design of the church is a basilica, composed of a nave and two aisles, 12 bases and 2 Corinthian capitals. The roof once was covered by rafters that supported the tiles.
circa 350 CE
The floor is covered with mosaics, featuring intertwining circles and rhombs, icons of plants and complex geometric forms. Some of the figures inside the circles were destroyed, probably by the iconoclastic activists (during the middle 8th century CE, though this extends the time the church was still standing).
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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