Archaeologists told about the discovery of two baptisteries in the Byzantine cathedral

Excavations of the Byzantine cathedral in the ancient city of Hippos (Susita) near the Sea of Galilee revealed two separate baptisteries and a unique marble block with three recesses, which had never been found before. This was reported in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly magazine.

"The presence of the baptistery inside the martyrdom and the more widespread presence of reliquaries in the baptismal halls are well attested during the Byzantine period," the authors of the study noted.

The excavations were carried out by specialists from the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa. Hippos (Sussita), one of the cities of the Roman Decapolis, was located on a hill 2 km east of the Sea of Galilee. During the Byzantine period, it was the only Christian city on the shores of the lake: it had at least seven churches, five of which have already been partially studied.

The main find is two independent baptismal rooms, a photistery, as part of one cathedral complex. The Northern Baptistery with a large font and a running water system belongs to the early stage of construction and, according to scientists, was intended for adult baptism. The southern one, apparently, was built later — around 590 — in a space originally planned as a martyrium. A smaller font without a drainage hole in it is probably designed for the baptism of infants. Researchers believe that the need for children's baptism increased at the end of the sixth century, and the martyrium was supplemented by a small font.

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A rectangular marble block 42 cm long with three identical hemispherical depressions with a diameter of 14 cm each stands out among the finds. According to the authors of the publication, the bowls contained three types of sacred oils used in the anointing ceremony at baptism. Ancient sources testify to the practice of repeated anointing: before and after three times immersion in water, and with the use of various oils.

In the same room, a marble reliquary weighing 42 kg was found — probably the heaviest discovered in the Holy Land — and a bronze candelabrum about 105 cm high with a three-legged base in the form of hooves and a pommel in the shape of a Corinthian capital.

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On March 15, Arkeonews magazine reported the discovery of a 2,000-year-old lead projectile during excavations of the ancient city of Hippos (Susita) near the Sea of Galilee. A mocking inscription "learn a lesson" was also found on the find, which is addressed to the enemy.

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