significance of the Megiddo prison Church findings
Interview with Dr. Moti Aviam.
Dr. Aviam is an adjunct professor and archaeologist in residence in the Department of Classics and Religion, Center for Judaic Studies, University of Rochester NY, and Director of the Institute for Gallilean Archaeology of the University of Rochester. He also teaches at the Ort Braude College at Karmiel.
Dr. Moti Aviam
What is your professional view on the significance of the findings in Megiddo prison?
Private praying chambers were known in that ere, keep in mind that Christianity was still outlawed in that time. They were meant for family members or close friends to gather and pray. Usually it only was rich households who could afford to build such chambers.
The term "Church" should be used for a public space. I would suggest using more question marks rather then exclamation marks.
In any case, whether it is private or public it is a very important find.
How can the Name of the centurion mentioned in the mosaic be explained?
Well, it all depends on the dating of the mosaic. Around the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. the Roman army was a fertile field for many different religions from Egypt, Persia and Christianity as well. Many soldiers and officers found the Christian religion very appealing, and there was a movement towards accepting Christianity. Some of important Christian saints are known from these days.
Could you explain the significance of the finding?
Well, it's all about location. The Megiddo prison is located on the outskirts of an ancient Byzantine-Christian city. On the hills around Megiddo prison and Tel Megiddo once was a large Army base or city once called Legio. Remains of the ancient city can are ancient theatre (un-excavated) and aqueduct. The excavator of the mosaic floor – Yotam Teper, wrote his M.A. thesis on this area and discovered many important evidence. He was lucky to have the chance to dig it for few times already.
About the significance, first of all, any written testament, such as the Greek inscriptions, is very important, especially when it is an authentic datable finding like this. Written testaments are so rare, that every one is cherished. In Byzantine Churches mosaic floors there are many inscriptions, but one that is so early is incredibly important. Also, the specific name of Jesus and of "the table" in the mosaic is very uncommon. As I have mentioned, every element of original texts is crucial to understanding of ancient times.
What can you say about the era in which the Church was supposedly built (3rd century)?
Well, it was a time of transition. In some of my researches and article I was trying to show the ethnic and religion changes from Jewish to early Christians. Megiddo area was in the first and second century a Jewish community known as Kefar Otnai. Evidence for it can also be in the ritual baths (called miqve in Hebrew). In fact, the British, who built Megiddo prison in the first place, documented some of these miqvaot (as Teper discovered). This Christian structure seems to have been built in the transition between the end of the Jewish settlement and before the established Christianity, hence it is a remarkable evidence of the early Christian ere, of we know very little of.
What about the mosaic itself? What makes it so special?
The table mentioned is probably what is later called the Altar. We can see, like in a time machine, the earliest days of Christianity. The specific name of Jesus as god is also uncommon version, different from found in later Churches.
To sum things up, I'd say that the nature of the structure is the most important factor- determining whether it was a public or private building, and the dating of the mosaic. Dating a floor will give us a pretty clear-cut answer. The floor can be seen as a seal; what ever we find beneath it- is older. For example, if we find a coin dating to the 4th century A.D., there is no way it could have been built prior to that date.
I believe that Teper as well as other archaeologists helping him, will find the best ways to analyze and date the finds as well as publishing it as soon as possible.
I hope that the IAA will be collegial enough to invite a large (not selected) group of scholars to see and discuss the finds.
Please visit Dr. Moti Aviam's website at www.rochester.edu/college/galilee
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