Israeli archaeologists have discovered a rare ancient mosque in the south of the country that antiquities experts believe sheds light on the region’s transition from Christianity to Islam.
The remains of the mosque, which is apparently more than 1200 years, were discovered during the construction of a new neighborhood in the Bedouin town of Rahat, the Archaeology Authority said in a statement.
The mosque, located in the Negev desert, consists of a square building and a wall facing Mecca, with a semi-circular niche.
‘The unique architectural peculiarities show that the building served as a mosque,’ the authorities said, noting that is apparently could have housed several dozen worshippers at once.
‘A luxury property building’ was also discovered not so far from the mosque, where cutlery and glassware were found, indicating the wealth of its residents.
It should be noted that three years ago, Israeli archaeologists dug up another mosque from the VII-VIII centuries. The two Islamic temples were subsequently called ‘one of the earliest known in the world’.
‘Mosques, property and other houses found nearby explain a historical process that took place in the northern Negev with the emergence of a new religion – Islam, as well as a new government and culture in this district,’ the Archaeology Authority reported.
Settlement of Muslims in this region took place in the first half of the VII century.
The Authority said that the mosques in Rahat would be preserved in their present location as historical monuments.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Romayan/Creative Commons 3.0