The Reuse of Sacred Spaces in the Levant

This talk presents an overview of the forthcoming book The Reuse of Sacred Spaces in the Levant: From Late Antiquity to the Crusader Period, to be published jointly in late 2027 by the American Society for Overseas Research (ASOR) and Manar al-Athar, University of Oxford. The monograph, in two volumes, explores the architectural reuse of pagan temples as synagogues, churches, or mosques in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, as different religions spread across the Levant. “Conversion”, usually studied from historical or theological perspectives, is examined here as an archaeological phenomenon.
Previous surveys traditionally relied on written sources, and only in the past century or so has archaeological material expanded our general understanding of this subject. Geography, landscape, and social customs in interaction with the archaeology are also considered, and different potential modes of reuse are identified through a review of nearly a hundred sites. The sites of Jebel Harun in Petra (Jordan) and the Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek (Lebanon) will illustrate the monograph’s approach.

The AWRC have reserved a Lunch Table in Hall for Cluster members from 12.30. Lunch will be an opportunity to meet our speaker Andy Reyes. Andy's talk will start at 13.15 in the Buttery, and will be catered with tea/coffee and cakes (all welcome)