|
|
|
|
Mamshit
|
| |
|
| |
Mamshit is the Nabataean city of Memphis. In the Nabataean period, Mamshit was important because it sat on Incense Road, on the route from the Idumean Mountains to the Arabah, which passed through Ma'ale Akrabim and continued on to Beer-Sheva or to Hebron and Jerusalem. The city covers and is the smallest but best restored city in the Negev Desert. The once-luxurious houses have unusual architecture not found in any other Nabataean city.
The biggest treasure ever found in Israel was exposed in Mamshit - 10500 silver coins, 158 pounds of plumbum tonque with foundry signs and a papyrus cluster with Greek ancient texts.
The reconstructed city gives the visitor a sense of how Mamshit once looked.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Mamshit' Start a new discussion about 'Mamshit' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Mamshit is the Nabataean city of Memphis. In the Nabataean period, Mamshit was important because it sat on Incense Road, on the route from the Idumean Mountains to the Arabah, which passed through Ma'ale Akrabim and continued on to Beer-Sheva or to Hebron and Jerusalem. The city covers and is the smallest but best restored city in the Negev Desert. The once-luxurious houses have unusual architecture not found in any other Nabataean city.
The biggest treasure ever found in Israel was exposed in Mamshit - 10500 silver coins, 158 pounds of plumbum tonque with foundry signs and a papyrus cluster with Greek ancient texts.
The reconstructed city gives the visitor a sense of how Mamshit once looked. Entire streets have survived intact, and there are also large groups of Nabataean buildings with open rooms, courtyards, and terraces. The stones are carefully chiseled and the arches that support the ceiling are remarkably well constructed.
History
Mamshit was built in 1st century BC as trade post on the way from Petra to Gaza. with time the city was developed and based also on agriculture.
When trade in Mamshit waned with the Roman occupation, the occupants found another way to make a living: raising horses. The residents of Mamshit bred the renowned Arabian horse, which brought great wealth to their city. During the Byzantine period Mamshit also received support from the authorities for being a frontier city. When this funding dried up, at the time of Justinian, the city died a natural death.
Before the founding of the State of Israel, Prime Minister to-be David Ben-Gurion saw Mamshit as the capital of the future country, which dovetailed with his dream of settling the Negev Desert.
Two churches were discovered in Mamshit. The western Nile Church has a mosaic floor with colorful geometric patterns, birds, a fruit basket, and five dedications in Greek (the mosaic is not open to the public). The eastern church has a lectern on small marble pillars, the remnants of which can be seen at the site.
Mamshit was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO on June 2005.
External links
- Detailed track and hiking info from
|
| |
|
|
