Symbols of Faith in the Mosaic Floors of the Newly Discovered Ecclesiastical Complex at Ashdod Maritima, Israel

Öz

An ecclesiastical complex has recently been discovered in Ashdod Maritima – ancient Azotus. The site was excavated in 2019 and 2021. The complex includes a basilica, several rooms, and a chapel on the north side, all decorated with mosaic pavements. A mixed trend comes to light in the mosaics: on the one hand, there is a continuation of the geometric and vegetal compositions and motifs that originated in the Roman world and continued into the Byzantine period. On the other hand, the complex is unique in the many symbols of faith that appear, scattered throughout its parts. All types of crosses are depicted; a medallion with a Greek cross accompanied by the Greek letters iota-chi, and alpha and omega; a medallion with a Latin cross standing on Golgotha Hill with the Greek letters iota-chi and alpha and omega; a large Latin cross standing on Golgotha Hill with two large Greek crosses between its arms; and a medallion with a quote from Psalms. The complex is exceptional in the large number of crosses, the names of the bishops, priest, deacon, and deaconesses who were involved in the construction and decoration or were buried in the complex, and the large number of dated inscriptions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ashdod Maritima
• Greek cross
• a Latin cross standing on Golgotha Hill
• Greek letters iota-chi and alpha and omega
• deaconesses

Ashdod Maritima, İsrail’de Yeni Keşfedilen Dini Kompleksin Mozaik Zeminlerindeki İnanç Sembolleri

Öz

Antik adı Azotus olan Ashdod Maritima’da yakın zamanda bir dini kompleks keşfedilmiştir. Alanda 2019 ve 2021’de arkeolojik kazı gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kompleks, tümü mozaik döşemelerle süslenmiş bir bazilika, birkaç oda ve kuzey tarafında bir şapel içermektedir. Mozaiklerde karışık bir eğilim ortaya çıkmaktadır: Bir yanda, Roma dünyasında ortaya çıkan ve Bizans dönemine kadar devam eden geometrik ve bitkisel kompozisyonların ve motiflerin devamı varken; öte yanda, kompleks, bölümlerine dağılmış olarak ortaya çıkan birçok inanç sembolü bakımından benzersizdir. Her tür haç tasvir edilmiştir; Yunan harfleri iota-chi ve alfa ve omega ile birlikte Yunan haçı olan bir madalyon; Golgotha Tepesi’nde Yunanca iota-chi ve alfa ve omega harfleriyle Latin haçı bulunan bir madalyon; kolları arasında iki büyük Yunan haçı bulunan Golgotha Tepesi’nde duran büyük bir Latin haçı; ve Mezmurlar’dan bir alıntı içeren bir madalyon yer almaktadır. Kompleks, çok sayıda haç, inşaat ve dekorasyonda yer alan veya komplekse gömülen piskopos, rahip, diyakoz ve diyakozların adları ve çok sayıda tarihli yazıt ile istisnai bir yere sahiptir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ashdod Maritima
• Yunan haçı
• Golgotha Tepesi’nde duran Latin haçı
• Yunan harfleri iota-chi ve alfa ve omega
• diyakozlar

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