ממשית | |
 The Mampsis Church | |
  Shown within Israel | |
| Alternative name | Mamshit Memphis |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern District,Israel |
| Region | Negev |
| Coordinates | 31°01′30″N35°03′50″E / 31.025°N 35.064°E /31.025; 35.064 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 1st century BCE |
| Cultures | Nabataean,Roman,Byzantine |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
| Official name | Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev (Haluza, Mamshit,Avdat andShivta) |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, v |
| Designated | 2005(29thsession) |
| Reference no. | 1107 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
Mampsis (Medieval Greek: Μάμψις) orMemphis (Ancient Greek: Μέμφις), todayMamshit (Hebrew:ממשית),Kurnub (Arabic: كرنب), is a formerNabataean caravan stop andByzantine city. In the Nabataean period, Mampsis was an important station on theIncense Road, connecting Southern Arabia through Edom, theArabah andMa'ale Akrabim, to the Mediterranean ports, as well as toJerusalem viaBeersheba andHebron. The city covers 10 acres (40,000 m2) and is the smallest but best restored ancient city in theNegev Desert. The once-luxurious houses feature unusual architecture not found in any other Nabataean city.
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.
TheIncense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev, including Mampsis,Haluza,Avdat, andShivta, were declared aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO in June 2005.[1]
TheMedieval Greek nameMampsis (Μαμψις) appears on theMadaba map and in the writings ofChurch Fathers.[2]
TheNegev 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 thatMamshit was the original Hebrew name, which had been distorted by the Greeks.[2]
The name inArabic,Kurnub, is a drink made from camel milk and date honey.[3]
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Mampsis was founded in the 1st century BCE as trade post betweenPetra andGaza. 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 renownedArabian horse.[4]
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 ofJustinian 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 ofIsrael, Prime Minister to-beDavid Ben-Gurion saw Mampsis as the capital of the future country,[6] which dovetailed with his dream of settling theNegev Desert.[citation needed]
The site was first mentioned by the archaeologistUlrich 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 theAlois 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 theHebrew University and theNational Parks Authority. In 1972 the place was opened for visits.[8]
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 inIsrael was discovered in Mampsis, consisting of 10,500 silver coins with a total weight of 72 kg. Other findings include a leadingot with its foundry markings, a collection of ancient Greek texts onpapyrus, and other objects indicative of wealth.[10]
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