Byzantine Church Discovered in Israel Reveals Surprising Pagan Connection

Hidden out of sight and forgotten for centuries in the Shoham Community Forest, near the heart of Israel, archaeologists have now uncovered the remains of an extraordinary 6th-century Byzantine church. The discovery, first made in 1986, offers important evidence of a little-known period of religious transformation. Among the most fascinating discoveries of those excavations is a unique marble medallion depicting the Greek goddess Tyche, a rare find in a Christian context.

This combination of pagan and Christian symbolism at one site shows the cultural complexity of the Byzantine period in the Land of Israel, illustrating how ancient beliefs persisted alongside the rise of Christianity.

Marble medallion depicting the Greek goddess Tyche. (IAA)

Unveiling Khirbet Tinshemet: An Ancient Settlement in Israel

The ancient village of Khirbet Tinshemet lies within the Shoham Community Forest, a scenic area full of archaeological treasures, explains a, Israel Antiquities Authority announcement. The site is believed to have been an active settlement from the 4th century AD, continuing through the Byzantine era and into the early Islamic period.

The church now unearthed there has previously been identified by some scholars with “Beto-Melgasis,” a settlement featured on the famous Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic that served as a detailed cartographic representation of the Holy Land.

Excavations at Khirbet Tinshemet, led by Prof. Yosef Porat in 1986 and later by Dr. Uzi Dahari in 1995, revealed the church’s charred remains. It was then the rare marble medallion carved with the image of Tyche, the Greek goddess of fortune and the patron of cities was found. Tyche’s presence at the entrance of a Christian church is an unusual find, offering insights into the cultural syncretism of the time.

The IAA report notes the medallion dates back to 582-3 AD, a time when Christian churches were flourishing across the Byzantine Empire. The inclusion of a pagan symbol like Tyche at a Christian site reflects the slow and complex process of religious transformation in the region.

The medallion is the only known example of its kind within Byzantine art, making it an exceptional discovery.

Current excavations at the Shoham Community Forest site. (IAA)

A Cultural and Religious Hub in Transition

In addition to the medallion, archaeologists uncovered other items that shed light on the life of this Iron Age settlement. The site yielded coins dating from the 4th to the 8th centuries AD, indicating that Khirbet Tinshemet was an active settlement for hundreds of years. These coins not only reflect economic activity but also the settlement’s long history of continuous occupation through both the Byzantine and early Islamic periods.

The church, dedicated to Bacchus the Holy, a Christian martyr, contained a mosaic inscription in the center of the main hall that reads: “This place belongs to the Lord and the One Son.”

Mosaic inscription “This place belongs to the Lord and the One Son.” (IAA)

Such inscriptions affirm the centrality of Christianity in the region during the Byzantine period, despite the continued influence of older traditions, as evidenced by the Tyche medallion.

Preservation Efforts and Historical Significance

Following the major excavations of the late 20th century, the site underwent significant preservation efforts led by the IAA’s Conservation Department. In 2011, a project involving local residents was launched to ensure the site’s survival for future generations. Today, Khirbet Tinshemet is an accessible and well-preserved site, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the religious and cultural transitions of ancient Israel.

Visitors to the site today can explore the ruins and imagine a time when the old and the new coexisted—when worshippers of the Christian God might have still held some reverence for the pagan goddess of fortune.

Top image: Mosaic inscription “This place belongs to the Lord and the One Son.”           Source: IAA

By Gary Manners