Avdat is a Nabatean City founded around 150 BC. Between 300-600 AD the city flourished and was destroyed when the Persians swept through the land of Israel 614 AD.
Established by the Nabateans in 100’s BC. In 106 AD the Nabatean empire, including Avdat, was placed under Roman rule by Trajan. Nabateans established oasis settlements and a trading network between these settlements between Syria and Arabia from the Euphrates to the Red Sea. Avdat was one of the Nabatean’s establishments on the Spice Route.
Avdat peaked during the Byzantine period beginning in 325 AD until Avdat was destroyed by the Persians in 614 AD. The Nabateans established cities in places where there was not enough rain to support a population. But, the Nabateans carefully managed their water supply and grew rich on the trade routes. They channeled all water into cisterns. Avdat has four wine presses used to press the grapes they amazingly grew.
These presses can be seen today along with the channels where the wine flowed into a collection pit.
The Nabateans became Christian when Constantine converted. Remains of two churches can be seen: 1) the North Church from the 300’s; 2) Church of St. Theodore from the 400’s.
This was originally a major stop on the spice route taht ran from the ARabian Peninsula to Gaza.
Walking through the houses, walls and streets of Avdat.
A stone wheel used for grinding grain
Toni looks at where to wine would leave the wine press for the vat
An Arched enterance
Toni looking into a church
A figure carved into the door frame of the chruch at Avdat
The Altar at the front of the church
The remains of the front railings in front of the altar at the front of the church
The Altar behind the railing at the front of the church
To the left of the altar was where the pastor spoke from a raised podium
A room to the right of the altar
Decorative stone work above an doorway at Advat
This is a fragment of the f ront legs and rear foot of a running horse carved in stone that Galyn picked up among the rocks at Advat.
