Mazor Mausoleum
Encyclopedia
The Mazor Mausoleum is one of the most impressive and best preserved Roman
buildings in Israel
, located in El'ad
. The Mausoleum
, which is the only Roman era building in Israel to still stand from its foundations to its roof, was built for an important Roman man and his wife in the 3rd century AD. Their identities remain a mystery but one can still see the remnants of two sarcophagi in the mausoleum.
, the Muslims added a prayer niche
in the southern wall, indicating the direction of Mecca
, and the building became an Islamic holy place called Maqam en Neby Yahyah (Shrine of the Prophet John
). Due to its sacredness, the building was preserved through the ages. It functioned as a mosque
until the depopulation of the Palestinian village Al-Muzayri'a in 1948.
In July 1949 Israel decided to raze the mausoleum (after the Israeli army had used the building for target practice), however an antiquities inspector managed to stop the destruction.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
buildings in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, located in El'ad
El'ad
El'ad, also spelled Elad , is a city in the Center District of Israel. Located about east of Tel Aviv on Route 444 between Rosh HaAyin and Shoham.In 2007 the town had a total population of 31,300. Its current population is estimated at over 32,000...
. The Mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
, which is the only Roman era building in Israel to still stand from its foundations to its roof, was built for an important Roman man and his wife in the 3rd century AD. Their identities remain a mystery but one can still see the remnants of two sarcophagi in the mausoleum.
Muslim Period
In the Late AntiquityLate Antiquity
Late Antiquity is a periodization used by historians to describe the time of transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in both mainland Europe and the Mediterranean world. Precise boundaries for the period are a matter of debate, but noted historian of the period Peter Brown proposed...
, the Muslims added a prayer niche
Mihrab
A mihrab is semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying...
in the southern wall, indicating the direction of Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, and the building became an Islamic holy place called Maqam en Neby Yahyah (Shrine of the Prophet John
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
). Due to its sacredness, the building was preserved through the ages. It functioned as a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
until the depopulation of the Palestinian village Al-Muzayri'a in 1948.
In July 1949 Israel decided to raze the mausoleum (after the Israeli army had used the building for target practice), however an antiquities inspector managed to stop the destruction.