A late fifth century CE Greek inscription, Christ born of Mary, recently found in the village of et-Taiyiba (Taibe) in the Jezreel Valley. | Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities Authority
Archaeologists have discovered an Ancient Greek inscription bearing the phrase “Christ, born of Mary” in northern Israel the first evidence of an early Christian settlement from 1,500 years ago in Taibe, located in the Jezreel Valley.
The Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday that archaeologists discovered the inscription on a wall of a late-Byzantine era structure during excavations in Taibe. According to researchers, the inscription had originally been laid at the entryway of a previously unknown fifth century church.
The First Byzantine Church in Taibe
The blessing originally stood above the entrance of the church but it was discovered in the more modern church walls, so it had been reused as construction material at some time in the past when the building collapsed and was rebuilt. Taibe was a Christian village in the Byzantine period between the 5th to 7th centuries and later became the site of a Crusader fortress. IAA archaeologist Dr. Walid Atrash points out that while archaeologists have explored the Jezreel Valley for many years, most of their findings relate to ancient Christians, but this discovery is “the first evidence of the Byzantine church’s existence in the village of Taibe.”
Set In Stone: 1,500-Year-Old ‘Christ, Born Of Mary’ Inscription Found
Set In Stone: 1,500-Year-Old ‘Christ, Born Of Mary’ Inscription Found
Comments Off on Set In Stone: 1,500-Year-Old ‘Christ, Born Of Mary’ Inscription Found
A Greek inscription dedicated to “Christ born of Mary” was discovered during Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in the village of et-Taiyiba in the Jezreel Valley.
Engraved in stone, the inscription comes from the frame of an entrance door of what appears to be a church dating from the Byzantine period (late 5th century CE).
According to Leah Di-Segni, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, this dedicatory inscription would have been engraved while casting the foundations of the church.
The inscription.
Israel Antiquities Authority excavations in the village of et-Taiyiba in the Jezreel Valley recently unearthed an inscription dedicated to “Jesus, the Son of Mary.” The Greek inscription, engraved in stone, comes from the frame of an entrance door dating from the Byzantine period (late fifth century CE). It was discovered incorporated in secondary use in one of the walls of a magnificent building dating from the Byzantine or Early Islamic period, where the excavations uncovered two rooms containing mosaic pavements with a geometric design.
The inscription was recovered in an archaeological excavation directed by Tzachi Lang and Kojan Haku of the IAA before the construction of a road inside the village. As part of the IAAâs policy of increasing public interest in archaeology, students, volunteers and workers from the local community, participated in the excavation.
Amanda Borschel-Dan is The Times of Israel s Jewish World and Archaeology editor.
A late 5th century CE Greek inscription, Christ born of Mary, recently found in the village of et-Taiyiba (Taibe) in the Jezreel Valley. (Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities Authority)
A Islamic period building in which a late 5th century CE Greek inscription, Christ born of Mary, was found in secondary use, excavated in the village of et-Taiyiba (Taybeh) in the Jezreel Valley. (Tzachi Lang/Israel Antiquities Authority)
Students from the Hanaton pre-military preparatory program work on the excavation of an Islamic period building in which a late 5th century CE Greek inscription, Christ born of Mary, was found in secondary use, in the village of et-Taiyiba (Taybeh) in the Jezreel Valley. (Einat Ambar-Armon/Israel Antiquities Authority)