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Mampsis

January 01, 1970

Mampsis (Medieval Greek: Μάμψις) or Memphis (Ancient Greek: Μέμφις), today Mamshit (Hebrew: ממשית), Kurnub (Arabic: كرنب), is a former Nabataean caravan stop and Byzantine city. In the Nabataean period, Mampsis was an important station on the Incense Road, connecting Southern Arabia through Edom, the Arabah and Ma'ale Akrabim, to the Mediterranean ports, as well as to Jerusalem via Beersheba and Hebron. The city covers 10 acres (40,000 m2) and is the smallest but best restored ancient city in the Negev Desert. The once-luxurious houses feature unusual architecture not found in any other Nabataean city.

Mampsis
ממשית‎
The Mampsis Church
Shown within Israel
Alternative nameMamshit
Memphis
LocationSouthern District, Israel
RegionNegev
Coordinates31°01′30″N 35°03′50″E / 31.025°N 35.064°E / 31.025; 35.064
TypeSettlement
History
Founded1st century BCE
CulturesNabataean, Roman, Byzantine
Site notes
ConditionIn ruins
Official nameIncense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev (Haluza, Mamshit, Avdat and Shivta)
TypeCultural
Criteriaiii, v
Designated2005 (29th session)
Reference no.1107
RegionEurope and North America

The reconstructed city gives the visitor a sense of how Mampsis 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.

The Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev, including Mampsis, Haluza, Avdat, and Shivta, were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in June 2005.[1]

Name edit

The Medieval Greek name Mampsis (Μαμψις) appears on the Madaba map and in the writings of Church Fathers.[2]

The Negev Naming Committee chose to Hebraize the name as Mamshit (ממשית), with one committee member stating that it is "impossible to leave the name Mampsis because it's a foreign name"; the committee concluded that Mamshit was the original Hebrew name, which had been distorted by the Greeks.[2]

The name in Arabic, Kurnub, is a drink made from camel milk and date honey.[3]

History edit

 
Mampsis on the Madaba map

Mampsis was founded in the 1st century BCE as trade post between Petra and Gaza. Also based on agriculture, it continued to develop over time. When its trade with the Roman occupation waned,[dubious – discuss] the city developed a lucrative trade breeding fine horses, notably, the renowned Arabian horse.[4]

 
The dam that blocks Mampsis river south of the city

In 106, after the city was annexed to the Roman Empire, a Roman garrison was stationed there to guard part of the southern border of the empire and large dams were built around it, two of which have survived to this day.[5]

During the Byzantine period, between the 3rd and 5th centuries BCE, Mampsis received support from the authorities as a frontier city until the time of Justinian I. When this funding ceased, the city went into decline and had practically ceased to exist by the middle of the 6th century C.E.[4]

Before the founding of the State of Israel, Prime Minister to-be David Ben-Gurion saw Mampsis as the capital of the future country,[6] which dovetailed with his dream of settling the Negev Desert.[citation needed]

Research on the site edit

The site was first mentioned by the archaeologist Ulrich Jasper Zatzen in the first decade of the 19th century[7] and later in the century it was explored on several occasions. The first thorough survey was conducted by the Alois Musil in 1901. In 1937, the British Foundation for the Investigation of the Land of Israel and its Antiquities conducted another detailed survey of the site, and in 1956-1957, excavations were carried out on behalf of the Hebrew University and the National Parks Authority. In 1972 the place was opened for visits.[8]

Discoveries edit

Two churches were discovered in Mampsis. The western St. Nilus Church has a mosaic floor with colorful geometric patterns, birds, a fruit basket, and five dedications in Greek. The eastern church has a lectern on small marble pillars, the remnants of which can be seen at the site.

Extensive fortified residential compounds featuring a singular entrance were found that were timed to the 2nd century C.E. These complexes incorporated stable yards, storage facilities, and living quarters. Two burial sites were unearthed.[9]

The biggest hoard ever found in Israel was discovered in Mampsis, consisting of 10,500 silver coins with a total weight of 72 kg. Other findings include a lead ingot with its foundry markings, a collection of ancient Greek texts on papyrus, and other objects indicative of wealth.[10]

Gallery edit

  •  
    Mosaic floor of the Church of St. Nilus, Mampsis
  •  
    The Guardhouse (left) and Wealthy House (right).
  •  
  •  

References edit

  1. ^ "Mostar, Macao and Biblical vestiges in Israel are among the 17 cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Benvenisti, Meron (1 March 2000). "The Hebrew Map". Sacred Landscape: The Buried History of the Holy Land since 1948. University of California Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-520-92882-4.
  3. ^ "Sites & cities that bear the name of Mampsis". www.strabon.io. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  4. ^ a b Negev, Avraham. The architecture of Mampsis: Final report. "Qedem", Vol. 27, p. 8.
  5. ^ Negev, Avraham (1988). "THE ARCHITECTURE OF MAMPSIS: FINAL REPORT: Volume II: The Late Roman and Byzantine Periods". Qedem. 27: III–116. ISSN 0333-5844. JSTOR 43587598.
  6. ^ Sherf, Zeev (1962). Three Days. Doubleday. p. 127-125.
  7. ^ Vilnay, Zev (1976–1982). Ariel – Encyclopedia "Lidiyat HaAretz" (10 volumes) (1976–82) (in Hebrew). Vol. foreign researchers. Israel: Ariel. pp. 316–317.
  8. ^ "אתר ממשית (כורנוב) נפתח לפני הציבור" [Mampsis (Kurnub) was opened to the public]. www.nli.org.il (in Hebrew). 1972-03-29. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  9. ^ נגב, אברהם; Negev, A. (1969). "The Excavations at Kurnub (Mampsis) / החפירות בכורנוב (ממשית)". Qadmoniot: A Journal for the Antiquities of Eretz-Israel and Bible Lands / קדמוניות: כתב-עת לעתיקות ארץ-ישראל וארצות המקרא. ב (1 (5)): 17–22. ISSN 0033-4839. JSTOR 23665370.
  10. ^ Rosenthal-Heginbottom, Renate (1980). "The Mampsis Hoard – a Preliminary Report". Israel Numismatic Journal. 4: 39–54.

External links edit

  • - official site
  • Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev, UNESCO
  • Pictures of Mamshit archeological findings
  • Mamshit Detailed track and hiking info from
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mamshit.

January 01, 1970
mampsis, medieval, greek, Μάμψις, memphis, ancient, greek, Μέμφις, today, mamshit, hebrew, ממשית, kurnub, arabic, كرنب, former, nabataean, caravan, stop, byzantine, city, nabataean, period, important, station, incense, road, connecting, southern, arabia, throu. Mampsis Medieval Greek Mampsis or Memphis Ancient Greek Memfis today Mamshit Hebrew ממשית Kurnub Arabic كرنب is a former Nabataean caravan stop and Byzantine city In the Nabataean period Mampsis was an important station on the Incense Road connecting Southern Arabia through Edom the Arabah and Ma ale Akrabim to the Mediterranean ports as well as to Jerusalem via Beersheba and Hebron The city covers 10 acres 40 000 m2 and is the smallest but best restored ancient city in the Negev Desert The once luxurious houses feature unusual architecture not found in any other Nabataean city Mampsisממשית The Mampsis ChurchShown within IsraelAlternative nameMamshitMemphisLocationSouthern District IsraelRegionNegevCoordinates31 01 30 N 35 03 50 E 31 025 N 35 064 E 31 025 35 064TypeSettlementHistoryFounded1st century BCECulturesNabataean Roman ByzantineSite notesConditionIn ruinsUNESCO World Heritage SiteOfficial nameIncense Route Desert Cities in the Negev Haluza Mamshit Avdat and Shivta TypeCulturalCriteriaiii vDesignated2005 29th session Reference no 1107RegionEurope and North America The reconstructed city gives the visitor a sense of how Mampsis 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 The Incense Route Desert Cities in the Negev including Mampsis Haluza Avdat and Shivta were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in June 2005 1 Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Research on the site 4 Discoveries 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksName editThe Medieval Greek name Mampsis Mampsis appears on the Madaba map and in the writings of Church Fathers 2 The Negev Naming Committee chose to Hebraize the name as Mamshit ממשית with one committee member stating that it is impossible to leave the name Mampsis because it s a foreign name the committee concluded that Mamshit was the original Hebrew name which had been distorted by the Greeks 2 The name in Arabic Kurnub is a drink made from camel milk and date honey 3 History edit nbsp Mampsis on the Madaba map Mampsis was founded in the 1st century BCE as trade post between Petra and Gaza Also based on agriculture it continued to develop over time When its trade with the Roman occupation waned dubious discuss the city developed a lucrative trade breeding fine horses notably the renowned Arabian horse 4 nbsp The dam that blocks Mampsis river south of the city In 106 after the city was annexed to the Roman Empire a Roman garrison was stationed there to guard part of the southern border of the empire and large dams were built around it two of which have survived to this day 5 During the Byzantine period between the 3rd and 5th centuries BCE Mampsis received support from the authorities as a frontier city until the time of Justinian I When this funding ceased the city went into decline and had practically ceased to exist by the middle of the 6th century C E 4 Before the founding of the State of Israel Prime Minister to be David Ben Gurion saw Mampsis as the capital of the future country 6 which dovetailed with his dream of settling the Negev Desert citation needed Research on the site editThe site was first mentioned by the archaeologist Ulrich Jasper Zatzen in the first decade of the 19th century 7 and later in the century it was explored on several occasions The first thorough survey was conducted by the Alois Musil in 1901 In 1937 the British Foundation for the Investigation of the Land of Israel and its Antiquities conducted another detailed survey of the site and in 1956 1957 excavations were carried out on behalf of the Hebrew University and the National Parks Authority In 1972 the place was opened for visits 8 Discoveries editTwo churches were discovered in Mampsis The western St Nilus Church has a mosaic floor with colorful geometric patterns birds a fruit basket and five dedications in Greek The eastern church has a lectern on small marble pillars the remnants of which can be seen at the site Extensive fortified residential compounds featuring a singular entrance were found that were timed to the 2nd century C E These complexes incorporated stable yards storage facilities and living quarters Two burial sites were unearthed 9 The biggest hoard ever found in Israel was discovered in Mampsis consisting of 10 500 silver coins with a total weight of 72 kg Other findings include a lead ingot with its foundry markings a collection of ancient Greek texts on papyrus and other objects indicative of wealth 10 Gallery edit nbsp Mosaic floor of the Church of St Nilus Mampsis nbsp The Guardhouse left and Wealthy House right nbsp nbsp References edit Mostar Macao and Biblical vestiges in Israel are among the 17 cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO s World Heritage List UNESCO Retrieved 25 July 2021 a b Benvenisti Meron 1 March 2000 The Hebrew Map Sacred Landscape The Buried History of the Holy Land since 1948 University of California Press p 22 ISBN 978 0 520 92882 4 Sites amp cities that bear the name of Mampsis www strabon io Retrieved 2023 10 12 a b Negev Avraham The architecture of Mampsis Final report Qedem Vol 27 p 8 Negev Avraham 1988 THE ARCHITECTURE OF MAMPSIS FINAL REPORT Volume II The Late Roman and Byzantine Periods Qedem 27 III 116 ISSN 0333 5844 JSTOR 43587598 Sherf Zeev 1962 Three Days Doubleday p 127 125 Vilnay Zev 1976 1982 Ariel Encyclopedia Lidiyat HaAretz 10 volumes 1976 82 in Hebrew Vol foreign researchers Israel Ariel pp 316 317 אתר ממשית כורנוב נפתח לפני הציבור Mampsis Kurnub was opened to the public www nli org il in Hebrew 1972 03 29 Retrieved 2023 10 12 נגב אברהם Negev A 1969 The Excavations at Kurnub Mampsis החפירות בכורנוב ממשית Qadmoniot A Journal for the Antiquities of Eretz Israel and Bible Lands קדמוניות כתב עת לעתיקות ארץ ישראל וארצות המקרא ב 1 5 17 22 ISSN 0033 4839 JSTOR 23665370 Rosenthal Heginbottom Renate 1980 The Mampsis Hoard a Preliminary Report Israel Numismatic Journal 4 39 54 External links editMamshit National Park official site Incense Route Desert Cities in the Negev UNESCO Pictures of Mamshit archeological findings Mamshit Detailed track and hiking info from Tourism trip and travel to Israel nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mamshit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mampsis amp oldid 1223407651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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