Horvat Maʿon (Hebrew) or Tell Maʿin / Khirbet el-Maʿin [1] (Arabic) is an archaeological site located 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Gaza, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southwest of Kibbutz Nirim in the Negev, the arid southern portion of Israel; in the Roman period, the site is thought to have formed the western boundary of the Limes Palaestinae. [2]
A different Maon ( Khirbet Ma'in), southeast of Hebron, near Carmel and Ziph, is mentioned in Joshua 15:55 in the tribal territory of Judah, and not to be confused with Horvat Maon of the Negev. [3] [4] Others have sought to place Horvat Maon of the Negev with Beth-baal-meon ( Joshua 13:17) and Beth-meon ( Jeremiah 48:23). [5]
Horvat Maʿon, under the name Menois, was the capital of Saltus Constantinianus, [6] also known as Saltus Constantiniaces, [7] an administrative district formed by either Constantine the Great or Constantius II. [8]
Excavations there have uncovered the Maon Synagogue, known for its mosaics adorned with various animals and likely built around 600 CE. [9] [10] The date of the mosaic has been alternatively given as the first half of the 6th century, based on its style. [11]
31°25′N 35°08′E / 31.41°N 35.13°E
Horvat Maʿon (Hebrew) or Tell Maʿin / Khirbet el-Maʿin [1] (Arabic) is an archaeological site located 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Gaza, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southwest of Kibbutz Nirim in the Negev, the arid southern portion of Israel; in the Roman period, the site is thought to have formed the western boundary of the Limes Palaestinae. [2]
A different Maon ( Khirbet Ma'in), southeast of Hebron, near Carmel and Ziph, is mentioned in Joshua 15:55 in the tribal territory of Judah, and not to be confused with Horvat Maon of the Negev. [3] [4] Others have sought to place Horvat Maon of the Negev with Beth-baal-meon ( Joshua 13:17) and Beth-meon ( Jeremiah 48:23). [5]
Horvat Maʿon, under the name Menois, was the capital of Saltus Constantinianus, [6] also known as Saltus Constantiniaces, [7] an administrative district formed by either Constantine the Great or Constantius II. [8]
Excavations there have uncovered the Maon Synagogue, known for its mosaics adorned with various animals and likely built around 600 CE. [9] [10] The date of the mosaic has been alternatively given as the first half of the 6th century, based on its style. [11]
31°25′N 35°08′E / 31.41°N 35.13°E