Four Christian Objects from Caesarea Maritima Joseph Patrich

James S. Snyder 2 Preface
Silvia Rozenberg 3 Foreword

4 In Memoriam: Ornit Ilan

Debby Hershman 7 The Lady, the Rainbow, and the
Horse: Earliest Symbolic Images
from the Middle East
Reclining Hercules Attended by

L . Y . Rahmani 13
Erotes upon a Lead Coffin Fragment
from Jerusalem

Joseph Patrich 21 Four Christian Objects from
Caesarea Maritima

Leah Di Segni 33 Inscription on a Eulogia Stamp
ShaharBatz 39 The Church of St. Theodore at
Khirbet Beit Si la

55 Information for Contributors
56 Abbreviations

Four Christian Objects from The four objects described below -
Caesarea Maritima a eulogia bread stamp, a St. Menas
ampulla, an ampulla depicting a stylite saint,
Joseph Patrich and a silver spoon - were found in the
course of the University of Haifa archaeolog-
University of Haifa ical excavations of a complex of warehouses
and granaries adjacent to the palace of the
Fig. 1 Byzantine governor, located to the south of
Eulogia bread stamp the Crusader wall of Caesarea.' T h e objects
/MW1 • 2002:21-32 were found in a layer of debris that accumu-
lated over the Byzantine structures after their
desertion following the Arab conquest of the
city in 640 or 641 C E . Various fragments
of marble architectural elements retrieved in
this area, such as chancel screen plates, a
diagonally fluted colonnette, and altar legs,
in addition to the items under discussion,
suggest the possible existence of a chapel on a
second story, above the warehouse complex.
T h i s proposal is further supported by the
discovery - in the debris of the dolia hall
of Building I at the complex - of plastered
building stones from the second story, which
depict large painted crosses of the crux
gemmata type surmounting Greek inscrip-
tions.^

T h e first three objects described here
are eulogiae (Christian objects of various
kinds believed to impart blessings), while
the fourth may be considered Christian only
in general terms, having been retrieved in
the debris of an architectural complex that
belonged to Christians.

1. Eulogia bread stamp (fig. 1). T h e bread
stamp' was found in Building I of the
warehouse complex.'' It is made of well-
fired clay and is disk-shaped ( D i a 10.4 cm,
T h 1 cm). A pyramidal, knob-shaped handle
( W 3.5 cm, T h 3 cm) is attached at the back,
in the center (fig. 2). More than half the
original disk is preserved.

T h e decorations were incised on the
clay before firing. T h e circumference of the

21

Fig. 2 stamp is decorated by two concentric bands,
Eulogia bread stamp, side the outer bearing a zigzag line and the
inner a Greek inscription, more than half
Fig. 3 of which is preserved. The suggested recon-
Eulogia bread stamp, back structed reading of the complete inscription
22 is: "Blessing of the Lord upon us, and of
Saint Paul."' The inner area of the medallion
depicts an arched ciborium over a cross.The
arch, decorated by a zigzag line, is supported
by two columns, also decorated by zigzag
lines. A surrounding circle of dots is inter-
rupted at the bottom by a smaller cross in
a circle - seemingly one of a pair. Similar
dots are depicted between the arms of the
larger cross. The arms of both crosses have
flaring ends. Another cross with flaring arms
is depicted on the back (fig. 3). The other
markings on this side, however, are unclear.

This bread stamp is the only one of its
kind found to date in Caesarea. On the basis
of the clay, which is different from that of the
local jars and lamps," it seems that the object
was not produced locally.

Eulogia bread stamps differ in their
shape and inscriptions from eucharistic bread
stamps.' While the eucharistic bread was
served to the faithful as part of the rite of
communion, after it had been consecrated on
the altar, eulogia bread was distributed as a
eulogia to the faithful after the conclusion of
the rite and the dismissal of the assembly. It
was also acquired by pilgrims at churches,
monasteries, and martyrs' shrines, and dis-
tributed to the poor at feasts. I n addition,
eulogia bread was given out to the faithful in
conjunction with important feasts and saints'
days, without any connection to a particular
site.' It is also possible that a stamp could
serve as a eulogia in its own right, rather
than as a functional object in the baking
process. This would explain the dissemina-
tion of these objects and the discovery of
identical stamps in different parts of the early
Christian world.'"

J. Patrich; Four Christian Objects

How should the depiction on this bread Porcius Festus, Felix's successor, decided to
stamp be interpreted? There is no feature send Paul to Rome after Paul invoked his
beneath the central cross that would identify right to be tried in the court of Caesar (as
it as the cross of Golgotha - a Greek-type a Roman citizen, he was outside the juris-
cross regularly depicted on grades or on a diction of the local procurator). Yet before
trilobated mound. Similarly, the two smaller being sent to Rome, Paul was given a second
crosses appear below the central cross, not hearing in the audience hall of the praetorium
beside it - the common position of the crosses (Acts 25:23), in front of a large assembly that
of the two thieves crucified with Christ included, besides Festus, his guests Agrippa
on Golgotha. The two smaller crosses may I I and Agrippa's sister Berenice, as well as
have represented two of the apostles, such as high-ranking officers and prominent citizens
Peter and Paul, i f there were originally two of Caesarea. Sometime later, Paul was sent
names in the inscription. According to D i to Italy (60 C E ) . Based on this tradition,
Segni, there is no space in the inscription it would not be surprising to find a shrine
for another name besides that of St. Paul." of St. Paul in Caesarea. The archaeological
Nevertheless, in my opinion, the missing evidence at our disposal suggests that the
part of the inscription is long enough to chapel was located on the upper story above
have included a second name, consisting of the warehouse complex, in the immediate
a few extra letters, preceding that of Paul, vicinity of the spots where the objects under
without making the spacing of the letters discussion were found."
in the missing part tighter than that in the
extant part. The other name could have been The following two objects (nos. 2-3)
that of an apostle or of a local martyr. are clay ampullae. As tiny containers for
liquids, ampullae could serve as receptacles
I f the stamp was not a eulogia in its own for water that was used by a saint to wash
right, brought to Caesarea from Jerusalem his hands; for water that was drawn from
(like nos. 2 and 3 below, from Egypt and a well or cistern near a stylite's pillar; or
Syria respectively), it is reasonable to assume for dust (Syr.- hnana, G r . - konis) from a
that it was used locally in conjunction with a saint's shrine, mixed with water or o i l . "
shrine or a feast. The identity of the shrine Similarly, such flasks might hold oil blessed
or feast depends on the completion of the by a saint, taken from the vigil lamp
inscription. burning in a martyr's tomb, or sanctified
by contact with relics.'" Hagiographic lit-
The inscription, as deciphered by D i erature is replete with tales of healing and
Segni, associates the stamp with a shrine other apotropaic deeds performed by means
dedicated to St. Paul, presumably Paul the of such eulogiae. The ampullae were con-
Apostle. This is the first indication so far sidered instruments by which the grace and
for the possible existence of such a shrine in supernatural powers of the holy man were
Caesarea.'^ The literary sources pertaining to delivered to his supplicants; they were attrib-
the city make no mention of such a shrine." uted with the ability to cure sickness,
to protect the faithful and their relatives
According to Acts 23-25, after being and property from demons and the E v i l
arrested in Jerusalem, Paul was imprisoned Eye, to perform all kinds of miracles, and
by the procurator Felix in Wtrod'spraetorium to safeguard pilgrims against any hazards
at Caesarea (58 C E ) . Felix refrained from they might encounter on their journeys.'^
making any decision concerning the case,
and Paul remained in prison for two years.

mSA 1 • 2002:21-32 23

Fig. 4 hipowners even prinkled the contents of ccording to Christian lore, Mena , a
St. Menas ampulla ampullae over their hips before they were Roman oldier of Phrygian origin, uffered
about to set ail.18 martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian.
24 Hi corp e wa transported ecretly to Egypt
2. t. Menas ampulla (fig. 4). The and buried in the we tern desert, near a
ampulla19 wa found in Building I, in Area pring that acquired miraculou propertie
owing to it proximity to the aint's tomb.
KK. It i 10.7 cm high, with a round, Presumably, t. Mena ampullae contained
drop of water from thi spring. ena
flat body, a projecting neck, and a pair of wa regarded a a protector of pilgrim
large handle . On both ide t. Mena and merchant .22 His burial place at Abu
is depicted frontally a an orant, hi arm Mina, outhwe t of lexandria, beyond
raised in prayer. He wears a short tunic Lake Mareotis, became a famous pilgrimage
ite for Christians from all over the world.
tied by a belt and a paladamentum over both It wa fir t monumentalized by rcadiu
and Theodosiu II and later by Zeno and
shoulders. Flanking him are two kneeling Ju tinian.23 The center for the production of
camel . Two cro ses are depicted above St. Menas ampullae wa located at this site,
his shoulder . The scene is surrounded and everal pottery kiln have been excavated
by a circle of grains. Three more Menas there. lthough the camel appearing on
ampullae of the same type were also found the ampullae ugge t that Mena wa
in Area KK.20 Based on its size, the ampulla popular with de ert-farer , the fact that
belong to the group of small flasks as uch objects have been found throughout
classified by Kaufmann; according to the

typology of Ki s, thi type date to 610-650

CE,21 which corresponds to the la t urban
stage at Caesarea.

J. Patrich: Four Chri tian Object

Fig. 5 ampulla is a squat bottle ( H 9 cm, W 5 cm,
Stylite ampulla T h 2.5 cm); the rim and top of the neck
are missing. Both sides present a schematic
the Mediterranean basin and beyond,^'' and depiction, in relief, of a hooded stylite saint
not just in E g y p t (or A l e x a n d r i a ) , points to on top of a pillar. T h e pillar is flanked by
Menas's role as a guardian of all travelers, two Greek crosses, and the scene is framed
both those using land routes and those by two palm branches.
traveling by sea.-^^ A church of St. Menas
was erected in Jerusalem in the f i f t h century T h e scene is derived from the ico-
by Bassa, a wealthy matron associated w i t h nography of stylite saints, inspired by the
the empress Eudocia.^*' A martyrion of this life of St. Symeon the Elder (ca. 389-459),
saint has been known since the early f i f t h the famous Syrian monk who introduced
century in Constantinople.^' T h i s ampulla, the ascetic practice of living on top of a
together with the others of the same type pillar into Syria. H i s pillar of seclusion
found at the site, attests to the fact that at Telanissos (present-day Qal'at Sem'an)
the Christians of Caesarea made p i l g r i m - became a popular pilgrimage site during his
ages to the famous shrine of St. Menas near lifetime and thereafter.^'' Another famous
Alexandria; alternatively, the ampullae may Syrian stylite was Symeon's sixth-century
have been acquired at the saint's shrine i n namesake - St. Symeon the Younger
Constantinople or his church in Jerusalem. (521-592), who lived on top of a pillar on
M t . Admirabilis (the Wondrous Mountain),
3. Clay ampulla depicting a stylite saint to the west of Antioch.'" T h i s kind of ascet-
(fig. 5). The ampulla^" was found in an icism was most popular in the region of
unsealed layer that accumulated i n the well Antiochene in Syria.^'
of Building I I . T h i s layer can be broadly
dated to the fifth-seventh century. T h e

IMSJI 1 • 2002; 21-32 25

Stylite ampullae are very rare. Most palm-tree trunks. According to Sodini, this
stylite eulogiae k n o w n so far are tokens or ampulla depicts St. Symeon Stylites the Elder,
medallions, mainly associated with Symeon since the scenes on the eulogiae of St. Symeon
the Younger; these are usually made of clay, the Younger known so far are different from
but a few are of lead and fewer still of glass. those depicted here.'" However, St. Symeon
Several clay objects (an oil lamp, a cup, and the Younger touched his supplicants with
an oil lamp stand), two glass bottles, a silver palm branches when placing a benediction
reliquary plaque, a sandstone plaque, and upon them, rather than by placing his bare
several seals, all bearing images of stylites, hands upon them. Palm trunks and branches
are also k n o w n . A n o t h e r stylite ampulla are dominant motifs in the two ampullae
( H 9 cm, W 6.3 cm, T h 2.5 cm), similar in under discussion. It is thus likely that our
shape and dimensions to the one presented ampulla, as well as the one from Beirut, rep-
here, but with different representations, is resents St. Symeon Stylites the Younger.
known from Beirut (fig. 6 ) . " O n the obverse,
the pillar is shaped like a palm-tree trunk; T h e reputations of both stylites - the
the two crosses flank the hooded bust, rather Elder and the Younger - reached as far as
than the pillar, and are elevated on top of the boundaries of the provinces of Palestine
similar tree trunks, which, in turn, rest on and A r a b i a . " A few stylites were also known
top of two IT-shaped stands. T h e cabin on in Palestine itself"' Like the St. Menas
top of the pillar, masking the lower part ampullae, which indicate that the Christians
of the stylite saint, is covered by branches of Caesarea made pilgrimages to one of the
of a similar pattern to that of the trunks. shrines of St. Menas, this find suggests that
T h e curving lines flanking the pillar have the Christians of Caesarea also visited a
been variously interpreted as floral motifs shrine of St. Symeon - either of Symeon the
or snakes. T h e reverse side presents a cross Younger at M t . Admirabilis or of Symeon
and other motifs, framed on both sides by the E l d e r at Qal'at Sem'an, A n t i o c h , or
Constantinople.

26 J. Patrich: Four Christian Objecti

4. Silver spoon (fig. 7). The spoon,'* a Fig. 7
fine cast ligula, was found in Building I I I . Silver spoon
The oval bowl ( L 3.9 cm) has a molded
rim and is decorated by a shell. The handle tion, it has been suggested here that both
(L 11.5 cm) is divided into three segments, flasks relate to St. Symeon the Younger,
and the scroll commonly found at the point rather than the Elder. As for the spoon,
of attachment between the bowl and the either liturgical or mundane, it is a unique
handle is only alluded to. The first segment piece of tableware, attesting to the wealth of
has a square cross section and its upper side the local population.
bears a separate quadrangular pattern; the
second, with a round cross section, termi-
nates in a double bulb; the third is shaped
like a stylized swan head with a pointed
beak. Such elaborate spoons are generally
dated to the fourth-fifth century and later.''

Though silver spoons are commonly
found in church hoards, not all of them
were used in the celebration of the eucharist.
Similarly, in the present case, there is nothing
to suggest that this particular piece was a
communion spoon, though such a function
cannot be entirely excluded.'"' It may have
simply served as a luxurious table piece.
Yet when examined together with the other
objects described above, their possible origin
in a chapel that might have existed in this
area should be considered as well.'"

The four Christian objects described
above augment our knowledge of Christian
Caesarea, attesting to the piety of the local
population and to maritime connections with
centers of pilgrimage in Egypt and Syria.
Except for the Menas flasks, which are rela-
tively common objects, each of the items is
unique. The eulogia bread stamp, conveying
the blessings of Christ and St. Paul, bears
evidence of the veneration of St. Paul in the
city where he was kept in detention for two
years, and may identify the location of a
shrine dedicated to him. The stylite ampulla
provides us with another variant of a type
of squat rectangular bottle, known so far by
a single example from Beirut. Owing to the
prominence of palm branches in the decora-

iMWl'2002:21-32 27

* Editorial note: This paper refers to objects shown Galilee (a Jewish village during the Byzantine
in the exhibition Cradle of Christianity, 2000-2001. period) and two others from Kh. Kerak and from
Photos: © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem/ by Susita, with a different ornamentation, all housed in
A. Avital (figs. 1-5); by A. Hay (fig. 7). Drawings the Israel Antiquities Authority storerooms.
by T. Kofyan (fig. 4); Y. Dokhovny (figs. 5 and 7).
'"Galavaris 1970,127,142.
* The excavations took place in the years 1993-98.
For a preliminary archaeological report, see Patrich " See discussion by Di Segni.
1999, 70-108. Objects nos. 1-3 appear in Patrich
1996, 146-76, figs. 25-28. The Christian identity '^St. Paul is also mentioned in a fragmentary Greek
of the architectural complex is evident from the inscription on a clay plate found in this area
frescoes and inscriptions on its walls. (10/94 KK17 L.OOl B.0096), published by Di Segni
together with the other Greek inscriptions from
^ Patrich 1996, 175, fig. 29 (marble plate); 170-71, these excavations. See Di Segni 2000.
figs. 23-24 (painted cross). See also Patrich 2000;
Di Segni 2000. " T h e most detailed list of the churches and chapels
of Caesarea is given in the Acts of St. Anastasius
' Registration number 10/94 KK17 L.012 B.0086 the Persian. See Kaegi 1978, 177-81; Flusin 1992,
001. 231-43. For a brief survey of this topic, presenting
all literary and archaeological evidence, see Patrich
•* For a map of the complex, see Patrich 1996, 148, 2001. A church of St. Paul's prison at Caesarea is
fig. 2, and Patrich 1999, 76, fig. 7. mentioned by an anonymous pilgrim of the later
thirteenth century. See Pringle 1990, 181. See also
' See the following article by Leah Di Segni, Patrich 2000.
pp. 33-38.
'•* For a detailed exposition of the archaeological data
' For a somewhat similar depiction of an arched and the considerations leading to this proposal, see
ciborium over a cross, with a surrounding Greek Patrich 2000; Di Segni 2000. The location of the
inscription reading: "Blessing of the Lord on us," proposed chapel near the Byzantine praetorium may
see Galavaris 1970, 119, fig. 64 (from the Byzantine reflect that in this period, the Byzantine praetorium
Museum, Athens). The provenance of the stamp, was regarded by the Christian populace of Caesarea
dated to ca. 600 C E , is unknown. as the site of St. Paul's detention, rather than the
Roman praetorium in Herod's palace, which by that
The local jars were studied by Michal Oren-Pascal, time was already in ruins.
and the local lamps by Shari Pincas. At present both
studies are available only as interim reports. " T h e Syriac hnana - literary "grace" - was martyr's
dust mixed with oil or water (Brockelmann 1928,
* Galavaris 1970. The identification of this object as a 243; John of Ephesus, Lives of Eastern Saints [ed.
eucharistic bread stamp in Patrich 1996, 172, fig. 25 Brooks, chap. 4, n. 70]; Magoulias 1967, 254,
was erroneous. n. 1; Lafontaine-Dosogne and Orgels 1967, 175-76;
Duran, trans., 1992, 19). The terracotta tokens were
' Galavaris 1970, 132-33, 137-61. Of particular also made of this blessed dust.
relevance for the stamp under discussion is the one
from Thessaloniki, of ca. the sixth century, depicted '^John Chrysostom (Homelia in Martyres, PG 50,
there as fig. 77. The blessing of the Lord is followed 664-65) encouraged the Christians of Antioch to
by the blessings of St. Andrew and (presumably) take from the sanctified oil while visiting martyrs'
St. Paul (Galavaris 1970, 128, 141-43). In another shrines and use it as an ointment for the body and
stamp, from Vienna, SS. Peter and Paul, identified all its members, as a remedy for the soul. Theodoret
by their names, are shown flanking a cross. The of Cyrrhus hung a flask of oil by his bed, for
surrounding Greek inscription reads: "The blessing protection against the nocturnal visits of demons:
of the Lord on us. The cross is the beginning of Historia Re/igiosa, XXI.16 (trans. Price, 139-40).
life." Galavaris (1970, 146-48, fig. 79) associates On the use of oil from martyrs' shrines, see Lassus
this stamp with bread distributed on the feast of 1947, 163-67. The prophylactic powers of stylites'
SS. Peter and Paul. The shape of the handle of eulogiae containing sacred dust mixed with water or
this stamp resembles ours. To the list of bread oil were obviously similar.
stamps given below by Di Segni one can add
two uninscribed stamps depicting crosses. The '^The reddish dust from the base of the pillar of
first, made of gypsum and cylindrical in shape seclusion of St. Symeon the Younger could also calm
(Dia 5 cm), is from Sinai, Wadi Sigaliya (Dahari tempests: van den Ven 1970, chap. 235. According
to this account, when the captain and the crew were
2000, 132, fig. 84) and the second, made of clay ready to abandon ship, one of the passengers, a
and round (Dia 15 cm), with a hollow, cylindrical monk, "took the dust {konis) of the saintly servant of
handle (Dia 7.2 cm), is from Tiberias (Feig 1994, God that he carried with him as a blessing [eulogia),
591-94). Feig (1994, n. 7) mentions a similar, as yet and after having put it into water, he threw it on the
unpublished stamp from Kefar Bar am in the Upper

28 J . Patrich: Four Christian Objects

sea and sprinkled all the boat, saying: 'Holy servant Leo L who had constructed a martyrion near the
of God, Simeon, direct us and save us.' With these pillar of seclusion of Daniel the Stylite, outside
words, all those on the boat were impregnated with the city wall. Nevertheless, St. Symeon's shrine at
perfume, the sea water surrounded the boat like a Qal'at Sem'an continued to be a major pilgrimage
wall, and the waves were powerless against it." See center up until the Arab conquest, even after
also Magoulias 1967, 256; Vikan 1991b, 75; and it came under Monophysitic influence in the
Vikan 1997, 56-59. A similar episode of a "calm early sixth century and lost its attraction for the
tempest" associated with the hnana of St. Symeon Chalcedonians. Symeon's shrines in Antioch and
the Elder is given in chapter 71 of the Syriac Constantinople were also centers of pilgrimage
Life. The ship was carrying passengers from Arabia (Lafontaine-Dosogne and Orgels 1967, 192-93;
(Sinai?) back to their homes in Syria. See Duran Maraval 1985, 342-44, 409). In 560, Evagrius
1992,151. These sea episodes bear, of course, visited the great shrine in Antioch, where St.
special significance for the people of a maritime city Symeon's relics were kept (Evagrius, Historia
like Caesarea. Ecc/esiasticae, I , 13-14 [ed. Bidez and Parmentier,
20, 33-25, 2]).
Vikan 1991b, 78, following the Piacenza pilgrim.
'"Mercerian 1952, 299-302; Lafontaine-Dosogne
"Registration number 10/94 KK24 L.003 B.0026 and Orgels 1967, 67-135; Djobadze 1986, 57-115;
001. Maraval 1985, 344-45. The pilgrimage center
around the pillar was constructed between 541 and
2°These are 10/94 KK24 L.003 B.0026 003 (a second 551, already during his lifetime. Other components
ampulla from the same basket), 42/93 KK22 L607 were added after his death.
B.0063 001, and 3/96 KK27 L.055 B.0130 001.
' ' Delehaye 1923; Pena, Castellana, and Fernandez
^' Kaufmann 1910a, 68-78; Kiss 1989, 15, cat. nos. 1975.
43-106; Kiss 1990, 195-202.
•'^ See the lists and descriptions in Lassus 1932,
"Kazhdan and Sevchenko 1991,1339. 140-58, 169-218; Sodini 1989, 29-53.

^•'For the history of the site and its architecture, Formerly in the Sarafyan Collection, Beirut,
see Kaufmann 1910b; Grossmann 1989; Meinardus no. 1262, published by Lassus (1932, 75-76
1961, 351-52. For a brief summary, see Maraval and pi. XX [no. X I ] ) . At present it is in
1985,319-22. the Elderkin Collection, Princeton. See also
Lafontaine-Dosogne and Orgels 1967, 157; Pefia,
^•"For a distribution map, see Lambert and Pedemonte Castellana, and Fernandez 1975,178, fig. 29, and
Demeglio 1994, figs. 1-4, 6. See also Lapp 2000. 213, fig. 59. For palm trees and branches on stylite
Menas ampullae constitute the largest sub-category eulogiae, see Lafontaine-Dosogne and Orgels 1967,
among all known pilgrims' flasks throughout 157, 184-85, and fig. 94 (a limestone medallion);
the Christian world (Lambert and Pedemonte Pena, Castellana, and Fernandez 1975, 205-6 and
Demeglio 1994, fig. 5 and Vikan 1991a, 1340). also 196, fig. 47, interpreting the trees as symbols
of hope, immortality, and Christ's Cross. Two
^'According to one account, two sea monsters that crosses flanking a stylite are also depicted on a
threatened the ship carrying Menas's corpse to glass medallion published by Lassus (1932, 75,
Egypt were appeased by the relics of the saint no. X I , pi. X X ) . According to Sodini (1989, 33),
(Kiss 1989, 9, n. 4). According to the Ethiopian St. Symeon the Elder is depicted on this glass
version, the sea monsters had thick long necks, and medallion.
their faces were "like those of camels" (Budge 1909,
28-29). For the prophylactic property of pilgrims' '"Sodini 1989, 33.
flasks and tokens on journeys, see Vikan 1991b,
74-92. ' ' Empress Eudocia sent her delegates to consult St.
Symeon the Elder during her sojourn in the Holy
^'Cyril of Scythopolis, Vita Euthymii, 30 Land (Cyril of Scythopolis, Vita Euthymii, 30 [ed.
(ed. Schwartz, 49:22). Schwartz, 47:22]); Theodosius passed through the
Saint's precinct of seclusion at the very beginning of
"Maraval 1985, 407; Delehaye 1910, 117-50. his monastic career, on his way from Cappadocia to
Jerusalem (Theodore of Petra, Vita Theodosii, 3 [ed.
^'Registration number 10/94 KK24 L.030 B.0118 Usener, 9-10]). A Georgian monk from Jerusalem,
001. named Sergius went to St. Symeon the Younger to
seek a cure for his infirmity. According to another
"Tchalenko 1953, 229ff; Maraval 1985, 342-44. narrative in Vita Marthae (Symeon's mother), a
The monumental structures at the site were portion of the Holy Cross and pieces of the Holy
constructed only after the saint's death (459), under Rock of Golgotha were send to Symeon the Younger
the emperor Zenon, during the years 476-490.
Symeon the Elder's corpse was transferred after
his death to Antioch, and some of his relics were
conveyed to Constantinople in 468 by the emperor

IMSA1 • 2002: 21-32 29

by Thomas, the itaurophylax of the Anastasis in Theodore of Petra
Jerusalem {Vita S. Marthae, Acta Sanctorum, Mali Vita Theodosii. Ed. H . Usener. Leipzig, 1890.
V, 3a ed. Cap. 7, 418 and 422-24 respectively);
Magoulias 1967, 248-49, 257. Theodoret of Cyrrhus
A History of the Monks of Syria (= Historia
• " A Palestinian stylite named Pancratius was among Religiosa). Eng. trans. R. M . Price. Cistercian
the delegates sent by the Patriarch Eustochius to Studies 88. Kalamazoo, Mich., 1985.
Constantinople for the Fifth Ecumenical Council
of 553 (Cyril of Scythopolis, Vita Sabae, 90 [ed. Vita S. Marthae
Schwartz, 198: 28]); another stylite lived near Vita S. Marthae, Acta Sanctorum, Mali V, 3a
Petra (John Moschus, Leimonarion 129). See also ed.
Festugiere 1962, 129, n. 303. A Sinaite monk
named John later became a stylite in Diospolis: Nau Secondary Sources
1903. A tower of seclusion, exceptional in its state
of preservation, is located ca. 1 km to the north Avner,T.
of Umm al-Rasas in Jordan; see Piccirillo 1992, 1999 Early Byzantine Wall Paintings from
fig. 330. An incision on a stone from the church
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32 J. Patrich: Four Chri tian Obj«