The Temple Complex at Horvat Omrit: Volume 1: The Architecture

415 Pages·2015·49.919 MB·English

by  Michael C Nelson

i
The Temple Complex at Horvat Omrit
© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2015 | doi 10.1163/9789004290990_001
ii
The Brill Reference
Library of Judaism
Editors
Alan J. Avery-Peck (College of the Holy Cross)
William Scott Green (University of Rochester)
Editorial Board
Herbert Basser (Queen’s University)
Bruce D. Chilton (Bard College)
José Faur (Netanya College)
Neil Gillman (Jewish Theological Seminary of America)
Mayer I. Gruber (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)
Ithamar Gruenweld (Tel Aviv University)
Arkady Kovelman (Moscow State University)
David Kraemer (Jewish Theological Seminary of America)
Baruch A. Levine (New York University)
Jacob Neusner (Bard College)
Maren Niehoff (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Gary G. Porton (University of Illinois)
Aviezer Ravitzky (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Dov Schwartz (Bar Ilan University)
Günter Stemberger (University of Vienna)
Michael E. Stone (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Elliot R. Wolfson (University of California, Santa Barbara)
VOLUME 45
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/brlj
iii
The Temple Complex at Horvat Omrit
Volume 1: The Architecture
By
Michael C. Nelson
Volumes Edited by
J.A. Overman, D.N. Schowalter, and M.C. Nelson
LEIDEN | BOSTON
iv
Cover illustration: Temple Two pilaster capital T21.1 (A0208) in its fallen position (from east).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The temple complex at Horvat Omrit / volumes edited by J.A. Overman, D.N. Schowalter, and M.C. Nelson.
volumes cm. -- (The Brill reference library of Judaism, ISSN 1571-5000 ; volume 45)
Summary: “Volume One of The Temple Complex at Horvat Omrit presents a detailed examination of
the surviving architecture of the three Roman period temple phases at the newly excavated sanctuary at
the archaeological site of Omrit in northern Israel. All three temples were built according to the Corinthian
order and the author describes and illustrates the state of the remains, proposes reconstructions of each
phase, and places each temple in the broader historical context”--Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: Volume 1. The architecture / by Michael C. Nelson.
ISBN 978-90-04-25063-5 (volume 1 : hardback : acid-free paper) -- ISBN 978-90-04-29099-0 (volume 1 :
e-book)
 1. Omrit Site (Israel) 2. Temples, Roman--Israel. 3. Excavations (Archaeology)--Israel. 4. Israel--Antiquities.
I. Overman, J. Andrew, 1955- II. Schowalter, Daniel N., 1957- III. Nelson, Michael C., 1965-
DS110.O57T35 2015
726’.12093345--dc23
2015001325
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issn 1571-5000
isbn 978-90-04-25063-5 (hardback)
isbn 978-90-04-29099-0 (e-book)
Copyright 2015 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Koninklijke Brill nv incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Hes & De Graaf, Brill Nijhoff, Brill Rodopi and
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Contents Contents v
Contents
Introduction to the Final Report on the Excavations of the Omrit Temple Complex vii
Acknowledgments ix
Acknowledgments for Volume 1: The Architecture xi
Introduction to the Temple Architecture Volume xii
Notes on Terminology, Conventions, and Abbreviations xiv
List of Tables xvi
List of Illustrations xvii
1 The Building Sequence and the State of the Remains 1
Pre-ES Building 2
The Early Shrine 2
Temple One (T1) 4
Temple Two (T2) 5
Post-Roman Period Activity 8
2 The Building Process: Materials and Construction Techniques 9
Site Preparation 9
Building Materials 10
Limestone 10
Travertine 11
Basalt 11
Marble 12
Wood 12
Mortar and Concrete 13
Plaster and Stucco 14
Metal 15
Terracotta Tiles 15
Building and Construction Techniques 16
Wall Construction 16
Foundation Construction and the First Course of Masonry 18
Wall Construction and Stone Working 19
Column Construction and Trabeated Architecture 21
Columns and Stone-Working 23
Columns and Lifting and Positioning 24
Masons’ Marks (Assembly Marks) 25
Stylobate Construction 25
Finishing 27
3 The Early Shrine and Its Temenos 28
In Situ Architecture 28
Fallen Architecture 30
ES Temenos Wall and Ancillary Structures 38
In Situ Architecture 38
Fallen Architecture 41
Reused Architecture 43
ES Platform and Pedestals 43
vi Contents
4 The Architecture of Temple One (T1) 45
In Situ Architecture 45
Fallen Architecture 49
Temenos and Altar 49
5 The Architecture of Temple Two (T2) 50
In Situ Architecture 50
Fallen Architecture 53
Temenos and Ancillary Structures 63
6 Reconstruction 65
T2 65
T1 69
ES1 69
ES2 70
ES Temenos Wall 72
7 Context and Style 73
ES 73
T1 77
T2 81
Illustrations 85
Appendix A: Block Tables 169
Appendix B: Block Catalog 182
Appendix C: Surveying and Drawing Methodology 372
Appendix D: Lintel or Arch? 373
Bibliography 375
Index 383
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Introduction to the Final Report on the Excavations of the Omrit Temple
Complex
The archaeological site of Horvat Omrit sits among the western foothills of the Golan Heights just above the north end
of the Hulah Valley in Israel and not far from the Lebanese border. Tel Azzaziat rises just to the north and further beyond
it to the northeast towers Mount Hermon. Meandering, seasonally flush, wadis immediately to the north and south of
the site carve their way through the underlying basalt bedrock and flow down into the valley to eventually merge with
the Hermon River to the west of Omrit. Today, the gentle terrain and grassy vegetation of the area both serves as pasture-
land for the cowherds of two neighboring kibbutzim, Kfar Szold and Snir, and appeals to the many weekend nature
enthusiasts from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The area’s recent past was, however, tumultuous. The region was contested in
Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, the Six Day War in 1967, and Yom Kippur War in 1973. Fragmentary Syrian bunkers
still dot the rolling hills and the immediate area around Omrit.
Gideon Foerster (1978) was the first to excavate and publish the remains at Omrit. In a small probe, he exposed the
southeast corner of the temple steps. Moshe Fischer (1990) traversed the site and published some of the exposed Corin-
thian capitals. Otherwise, archaeological interest in the area remained low until a grass fire swept through the area in
1998. After the smoke cleared, many architectural blocks could be seen among the ashes and charred vegetation.
Prompted and encouraged by Moti Aviam of the Israel Antiquities Authority, systematic excavations began in 1999 un-
der the direction of Professor Andy Overman and Macalester College. In that season, six 5 × 5 meter squares were
opened and within weeks it became clear that several monumental stone buildings once stood at Omrit. By the end of
the 2000 campaign, after eleven more squares had been excavated, we had revealed two phases of temple architecture
and a lengthy stretch of a colonnaded street to the north.
Although the spread of the architectural remains uncovered in the early trenches clearly pointed to an expansive site,
excavation efforts focused on the temple area from 2001 to 2011. Every season specialists and volunteers gathered to sci-
entifically remove the blanket of soil covering the buried architecture and artifacts. In the end, the excavations revealed
three periods of building activity and occupation in the temple area: Roman, 4th to 6th centuries, and the 13th century
CE. During the Roman period itself the sanctuary went through three distinct phases of temple architecture, each with
a temenos that contained permanently fixed altars and statue bases. Throughout the excavations, thousands of artifacts
were recovered, from nondescript and nondiagnostic cooking potsherds to marble sculptures to numerous coins. Many
of the artifacts have parallels from nearby sites. As the crow flies, Omrit was about 4.3 kilometers from the Late Hellenis-
tic sanctuary of Pan and the Roman city at Banias and about 4.8 kilometers from the small settlement of Tel Anafa. The
latter site seems to have declined and been abandoned just as monumental building began at Omrit.1
The early finds and results from the temple complex have been published in The Roman Temple Complex at Horvat
Omrit: An Interim Report, edited by J. Andrew Overman and Daniel N. Schowalter, Bar International Series 2205, (Oxford:
Archaeopress; 2011). Since the publication of this report more about the temple complex has come to light and the final
results are presented here in three volumes. The aim of the first volume is to introduce the temple area and to review its
standing and fallen architecture. It presents the state of the architectural remains and offers reconstructions of the three
temple phases.
The second volume begins with an analysis of the excavated stratigraphy and in particular discusses the key contexts
crucial to the dating and phasing of temple building, remodeling, and reuse. Critical dates and phasing horizons were
determined using the recovered artifacts, specifically the ceramic assemblages, lamps and lamp typologies, and coins.
Thus, volume 2 includes chapters, written respectively by D. Sandhaus, R. Rosenthal-Heginbottom and G. Bijovsky, de-
voted to each of these artifact types. Plaster, colorful fresco, and stucco adorned all three temples including the interior
face of the early temenos wall. S. Rosenberg surveys their contexts, materials, subject matters and regional correlates. An
interesting deposit of bones and ash associated with the last temple phase was recovered deep within the podium and
R. Hesse analyzes the faunal remains in the context of sacrificial activity. T. Grossmark presents the jewelry recovered
from several 13th century ce graves and a variety of metal and other artifacts, for example a 7th century bce Neoassyrian
1 Herbert and Ariel 1994.
viii Introduction To The Final Report On The Excavations Of The Omrit Temple Complex
seal, found in deposits within the temple foundations. A. Ehrlich examines the terracotta figurines, T. Sharvit pres ents a
beautifully sculpted sphinx cut from Parian marble, and D. Schowalter discusses the recovered inscriptions.
The third volume of the Omrit Final Report will include discussions of glass, marble sculpture and decoration, non-
jewelry metal objects and other small finds. It will also feature, a review of literary references and early traveler reports
of the region, paleo-seismology associated with the destruction of the temple, and a final interpretation of stratigraphy
and other evidence related to the identification of the temples and their dedicants.
Even as these reports are being published, field work continues at Omrit. A 5-year program of preservation and res-
toration of the temple was initiated in 2012 with the guidance and assistance of the conservation department of the IAA.
In the same year an expanded team of excavators began a 5-year program of research and excavation focusing on the
settlement areas to the north and east of the temple. The new “Settlement Excavations” will eventually lead to addi-
tional publication especially focusing on the Byzantine and 12th to 13th centuries occupations at the site.
AcknowledAcgkmneontwsledgments ix
Acknowledgments
Excavations of the size and scope conducted at Omrit could not have been possible without the help and assistance of
many people and institutions. In the early days of the excavations we worked closely with Dr. Moti Aviam and Dr. Zvi
Gal of the IAA’s northern office. Their assistance was critical and is very well remembered.
In acknowledging the many contributions to the Omrit Temple Excavations, pride of place must go to the many stu-
dent volunteers from Macalester College, Carthage College, Queens College, and other schools from season to season.
Students from our colleges performed first-class work as square supervisors and assistant supervisors, surveyors, record-
keepers, and of course, in the field as tireless and talented excavators. What we might find for words to thank you would
be terribly inadequate. The project has also been helped significantly by additional volunteers from places far and wide,
including Toronto, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, and more. Nanette Goldman served as the coordinating and edu-
cational director, a talented liaison between the goals of fieldwork and the day-to-day activities of a large group of fun
and interesting people. Gary Lindstrom, who passed away in 2009, was a great friend, excellent excavator, entertaining
roommate and supporter of the project from the very beginning. Our registrar Charlie Regan from Saganaw, Michigan
played a crucial role in our success and we thank him for his many years of cheerful and critical work. Ron Levy lent a
reliable hand in surveying, transportation and equipment acquisition.
The excavations at Omrit would not have succeeded without the support of our home institutions, especially Macal-
ester College and Carthage College. At Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg and our Provosts Kathy Murray
and Dan Hornbach have helped support and guide the work in myriad ways. Contributions from Carthage have been
many, and we especially acknowledge former President, F. Gregory Campbell; former Dean of the College, Kurt Piepen-
burg; Humanities Division Chair, Christian von Dehsen; and current Provost, Julio Rivera. We thank them all.
The support of friends and scholars in Israel was and continues to be absolutely invaluable. Researchers from the IAA
have been colleagues and team members since the inception of the project. Omrit began while Amir Drori was Director-
General of the IAA and now we continue to work under the leadership of IAA Director-General Shuka Dorfman.
Throughout our time at Omrit, we have greatly valued the wise council and friendship of Gideon Avni. Many other staff
and scholars from the IAA, too numerous to mention, have been valued contributors and friends. The entire Omrit team
thanks them all very much. Débora Sandhaus has served as our ceramicist and has been a vital part of our team since
the early years of the excavation. Danny Sion and then Gabriela Bijovsky have served as numismatists at Omrit. Gaby
Mazor and Walid Attrash have been great and important colleagues, and helped especially in the early phases when we
were trying to place Omrit in its broader architectural and cultural context.
People in the Upper Galilee have been our hosts and formed an essential part of the backbone of the work at Omrit.
Jonny and Tziona Grossmark of Kibbutz Amir have been stalwart in their ingenuity, friendship and support. Also many
people at Kibbutz Kfar Szold, our home away from home for 15 years now, have helped us in countless ways. We are es-
pecially grateful to our friend and colleague Grete Tal who served as our liaison with the kibbutz and facilitated many
other connections in northern Galilee.
We also thank Moshe and Aya Lev, Yona Chen, President of Tel Hai College, Rami Mador, whom we claim for the
north, and so many more; you know who you are. We must thank again our friends at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem,
Dudi Mevorah, Curator of the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods, Sylvia Rosenberg who has handled the spectacular
frescoe material from Omrit, Victor Uziel, and the entire, wonderful staff at the lab have all been invaluable colleagues
for us.
This volume, and the other publications past and future on Omrit, is deeply indebted to the support, contributions,
and collaboration of many friends, donors, and colleagues. We are especially indebted to Eugene and Emily Grant, Joyce
Schowalter, Charlie and Beverly Reagan, Sophie and Larry Cripe, and William Loughner. In this publication, as in others,
we thank you all.