Mamshit (Greek Memphis, Arab Kurnob)
About 50 km south east of Beer Sheva, Memphis was the most opulent of the Byzantine towns in the Negev. Initially founded in the first century BCE it rose to prominence after the Roman take-over of Petra (106CE) and the trading routes through the Negev. The routes were shifted north, through the Scorpion Ascent and Memphis, making it the first stop on the highlands after climbing up from the Arava rift valley. Memphis was the only town to have a wall around it, though this was more of a demarcation than for defence. Memphis is also notable for its opulent churches and the houses of wealthy citizens.
We shall visit:
- The gate and wall
- The Eastern Church of the Martyrs
- The Nabatu house
- The British police station
- The public reservoir and bath house
Hatzatz cisterns
A system of cisterns carved into the soft chalk, supported by massive columns. The cisterns still fill up in the winter but by summer most of the water has leaked out.
Avdat
60 km. south of Beer Sheva and 100 km. south-east of Gaza, Avdat was named after the Nabatean king Obodas I (96 to 85 BC). Sitting on a strategic hilltop, it was the main station on the Petra-Gaza route and in its heyday probably had a population of over 3,000 permanent residents.
Our main points of interest will be:
- The Roman Villa, which also overlooks the research station founded by Prof. Michael Even Ari to recreate Nabatean / Byzantine agriculture
- The Roman Tower, built by Diocletian in 294 CE (as attested by an engraving over the door)
- The wine press
- The fort and the water cisterns
- The church of St. Theodorus
- The Nabatean temple and lookout
- The Roman bathhouse
