Mampsis Mamshit (Kurnub)
The remarkable ruins of ancient Mampsis (Hebrew Mamshit, Arabic Kurnub), the most northerly Nabataean town in the Negev, are prominently situated on a hill 42km/26mi southeast of Beersheba and 6km/4mi southeast of Dimona. Excavations by Abraham Negev between 1965 and 1973 brought to light a Nabataean settlement which had undergone little change in Byzantine times, so that its original character is better preserved than at Avdat, Nizzana or Shivta.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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History
The town of Mampsis was founded during the period when the Nabataeans, from their capital at Petra, set out to colonise the Negev. It prospered in the first century A.D. as a trading town with a caravanserai, stables, residential areas and administrative buildings. After the fall of Nabatene in 106 the Romans built barracks here. In Byzantine times (when Mampsis featured on the mosaic map at Madaba) the old Nabataean system of irrigation was brought into use again, as it was at Avdat, and two churches were built. The town was destroyed during the Arab conquest in the seventh century.
In 2005 Mamshit was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Incense Route and Desert Cities in the Negev.
The town of Mampsis was founded during the period when the Nabataeans, from their capital at Petra, set out to colonise the Negev. It prospered in the first century A.D. as a trading town with a caravanserai, stables, residential areas and administrative buildings. After the fall of Nabatene in 106 the Romans built barracks here. In Byzantine times (when Mampsis featured on the mosaic map at Madaba) the old Nabataean system of irrigation was brought into use again, as it was at Avdat, and two churches were built. The town was destroyed during the Arab conquest in the seventh century.
In 2005 Mamshit was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Incense Route and Desert Cities in the Negev.
Related Attractions
The Site
The town of Mamshit is entered through the north gate in the town walls, from which we continue along ancient streets between blocks of houses to two large administrative buildings. Here, as in many of the houses, can be seen the springing of the stone arches which supported the roof. There is little ornament. In one of the buildings the arches have been preserved and it is possible to climb to the upper floor, from which there is a fine general view of the site.
Cemetery
Outside the entrance to the site of Mampsis, on the right when leaving it, is a signpost pointing to a cemetery northeast of the town in which numerous tomb chambers have been excavated.
Dams
To the west of the site of Mampsis, far below in the wadi, can be seen the dams (recently restored) which enabled the Nabataeans and Byzantines to store up water during the short rainy season for use during the arid summer months.
East Church
East of the West Church in Mampsis, immediately in front of the ruins of a police post of the Mandate period, is the East Church, which was dedicated to the Holy Martyrs. It is approached by a broad flight of steps leading up from a square which from Nabataean to Byzantine times was the market square. Like the West Church, it is an aisled basilica. In the atrium is a large cistern. A mosaic pavement in the nave has been preserved; in the right-hand apse is the tomb of a martyr.
Other buildings
Other interesting buildings in Mampsis, identified by signs, include stables, a portico with Nabataean horn-capitals and a building with well preserved wall paintings.
West Church (St Nilus's)
In Mampsis is the West Church, which is built against the town walls. This aisled basilica was built by St Nilus of Sinai about 400, as an inscription in the mosaic pavement of the nave records: "Lord, help thy servant Nilus, builder of this church. Amen". Also preserved are the columns between the nave and the aisles, the apses at the east end and part of the marble screen between the nave and the sanctuary.
