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History of Israel –Ancient Nabatean city of Mamshit
Mamshit, or its Arab name Mamshit-Kurnub, or even Mampsis to the Greeks, is located on hills above the Mamshit River gorge in the Negev Desert adjacent to the Dead Sea. The setting of Mamshit, against the soft desert hills and azure sky, is spectacular. Some buildings have been reconstructed which show what the city looked like in the first century B.C.E.
Historically, Mamshit was an important trade-centre on the popular incense and spices road, which connected the east (Yemen and Oman) through Arabia via the Nabatean capital city Petra, and on to the port cities on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Eilat, Beer-Sheva, Hebron and Jerusalem.
During its history, Mamshit city has been ruled by ancient Nabatean, Roman and Byzantine empires and before this, Nabatean history goes back thousands of years, starting close to the time when the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar who, in 586 B.C.E. captured Jerusalem and exiled most of the Jewish people. When the Nabateans (who were originally a nomadic people from the Arabian Peninsula), took over Mamshit, they established stations and fortresses along this trade route. However, they were conquered by the Romans who built a wall around the city, which remained intact until the late fourth century C.E. After them, the Byzantines occupied the city for three centuries and built many structures including two churches which continued to be used until the Arab conquest. From that time, Mamshit fell into disrepair and virtually ceased to exist. In 1936 the British Mandatory government built a police station over the ruins of an ancient Nabataean building on one of the highest parts of Mamshit, as well as establishing the Desert Mounted Police to supervise Beduins and Jews in the northern Negev.
Mamshit is the best restored in the Negev Desert, which is carefully maintained by Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The city area itself is small enough to walk around in about an hour—a tourist’s delight.
Among the ruins were many large wealthy homes. One is a 1,600 square-metre house, with courtyards, stairways and stables, showing the individual wealth of its owner, who for reasons unknown, left behind (for the archaeologists to find), some 10,500 silver coins dated between 222 and 275 C.E.
Israel © MEA-20180523 (J442) History of Israel -Nabatean city of Mamshit
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Pictures from Israel
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Interesting Israel -Columbarium at Masada
This interesting ‘honeycomb’ structure on top of the ancient fortress of Masada, could be mistaken for a brick wall to let air and light enter a dwelling. However, it is actually a columbarium, a name derived from the Latin ‘columba’ meaning dove. Historically, doves and pigeons were used for communicating to the outside world and of course, as a food source for residents and soldiers living on Masada’s summit. As well as doves which provided fresh meat and eggs, Masada’s isolated and elevated location required many more storerooms for essential dry-goods.
Such was the case when, in about 37-34 B.C.E., King Herod the Great was deposed and fled from Jerusalem to Masada, where he built his palace fortress on Masada’s summit along with 29 elongated storerooms. Archaeologists have discovered remains of clay pots used to store food, where some of the clay containers have retained their labels bearing names like fish, beans, dried figs, meat and fig cake.
Herod’s luxurious mountain top retreat was home to up to 100 people at any one time, who all needed to be fed. About a hundred years later, in 67 A.D. Jewish Sicarii rebels in the First Jewish-Roman War, took the summit of Masada as their retreat from the Romans who had left many supplies which managed to sustain approximately 960 people for almost two years.
Israel © MEA-20180516 (PF720) Interesting Israel -Columbarium at Masada
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Featuring Israel -Negev Camel Ranch
Peace and tranquillity are the endearing features of this unique Bedouin-style camel ranch. Established in 1986, in the Eastern-Negev, near the ancient Nabatean city of Kurnub-Mamshit, and along the northern ancient Incense Route, the Negev Camel Ranch offers the serenity of a biblical landscape, while carefully protecting the surrounding environment, natural sites and monuments.
This is where one can ‘sail’ the Negev on a most interesting camel ride, traversing the paths of this ancient spice route. The gentle ‘rocking’ of the camel has sometimes lulled a person to close their eyes and soak in the transcendent desert calm, which riders for thousands of years would also have done.
The Negev Camel Ranch is about half way between the Dead Sea and Beer Sheva. Totally unique, visitors experience a ‘Bedouin’ lifestyle within the sands of the Negev Desert. From this position, one can explore the Dead Sea, walk the marvellous hiking paths, ride the mountain bike trails, drive jeeps to historical sites close by, or travel on one of the camel-friendly tours. And, upon returning and freshening up, visitors can take advantage of the genuine and very tasty Bedouin-style vegetarian meals served at dinner or breakfast.
Israel © MEA-20180509 (C1191) Featuring Israel -Negev Camel Ranch
Copyright exists in all the material on this website and is owned by Messianic Education Australia Ltd. unless otherwise explicitly stated. This copyright extends to the images, logos, layout and presentation styles as well as the text material.
