Horvat Maon (Hebron Hills)

Horvat Maon/Horvat Ma'on,^[1][2] Arabic: Khirbet Ma'in^[3][4] or Tell Máîn (SWP map No. 25), is an archaeological site in the Hebron Hills, West Bank, rising 863 metres (2,831 ft) above sea level, where the remains of the ancient town of Ma'on (Hebrew: מעון) have been excavated. The town, now a ruin, is mentioned in the Book of Joshua (Joshua 15:55) and the Books of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:2). It still had a Jewish population during the Roman and Byzantine periods, and a synagogue was discovered there. The site is located about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southeast of Yatta.

Etymology

The Hebrew name is variously spelled as Horvat Ma'on,^[2] Horvat Maon,^[1] or Hurbat Ma'on. Tel Ma'on is sometimes also used.^[5]

The Hebrew word ma'on means 'dwelling', 'habitation'.^[6]

Horvat, horbat, hurbat, hurvat are transliteration variants of the Hebrew word for 'ruins' and direct equivalents of the Arabic

The site is first mentioned as one of the cities of

After the destruction of the Second Temple, there is again a reference to the site, when Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai is said to have gone up to Maon of Judah.^[7][10]

In the early 4th century CE, Maon was mentioned in Eusebius' Onomasticon as being "in the tribe of Judah; in the east of Daroma."^[11] During the Late Roman-Early Byzantine period, Darom or Daroma (Hebrew and Aramaic for "South") became a term used for the southern Hebron Hills in rabbinic literature and in Eusebius' Onomasticon.^[12][11] At the time, the Hebron Hills were demographically separated into two distinct districts, with only the southern one retaining a Jewish population along with a newer, Christian one.^[13]

Archaeology

Occupation periods

Archaeologists have discovered at the site potsherds dating back to the

A synagogue dating back to the Byzantine/Talmudic period was discovered at Hurvat (Horbat) Ma'on.^[15] Two occupation phases were discerned, covering the 4th/5th through the 7th century.^[14]

19th-century observations

Tell Maʻîn –– A mound some 100 feet high. On the west are foundations, caves, and cisterns, and foundations of a tower about 20 feet square. The masonry in this tower is large, with a broad irregular draft and a rustic boss. One stone was 3 feet 8 inches long, 2 feet 9 inches high, the draft about 3 inches wide. There is also a round well-mouth, 5 feet diameter, cut out of a single stone.[17]

Modern era

Horbat Maon is situated SE of the Arab town of Yatta, on the north side of regional highway 317. Today,^[when?] on the northern slope of the tell are settled several families^[who?] who have recently moved there from Yatta.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Ma'on, Mount Hebron
  , Israeli settlement, c. 3 km east of the ancient site

Further reading

• ISSN 0334-4479
  .
• OCLC 26159213
  .
• Amit, David (2003). Synagogues at Tell Maon and at Tell 'Anim, and the Jewish settlement in the south of Mount Hebron (בתי הכנסת בחורבת מעון ובחורבת ענים והיישוב היהודי בדרום הר חברון). Jerusalem: Hebrew University (Doctoral dissertation).
  OCLC 170885342
  .

• 
  The ancient hill of Tel Ma'on,[

  which?

  ] South Hebron Hills
• 
  Tel/Horvat Ma'on near Hebron
• 
  Stone troughs at the well of Ma'on
• 
  Staircase
• 
  Ancient remains
• 
  Ancient structures
• 
  Ancient wall
• 
  Remnants of Byzantine fort at Horvat Ma'on
• 
  Detail
• 
  Ancient stones

References