Jordan - The Sanctuary of Agios Lot, At Deir 'Ain 'Abata

The site is located at the south-eastern end of the Dead Sea on a steep mountain scree slope overlooking the modern town of Safi(Biblical Zoara). It is accurately depicted as the Sanctuary of Agios(=”Saint “in Greek) Lot Next to Zoara on the sixth century A.D. mosaic floor map at Madaba in Jordan. The existence of Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata(=”monastery at the Abata spring” in Arabic)was first officially reported in 1986 by B.MacDonald during his survey of the area. The following year K.D. Polites began a systematic survey of the site and in 1998 he started an excavation project supported by the British Museum which continued until 1996. The Sanctuary of Agios Lot consists of a Byzantine monastic complex with a number of hermits’ cells above it .The focal point is a triple apsed basilical church built around a natural cave which as early Christians believed was where Lot and his daughters took refuge after the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19).It is flanked to the south by a large reservoir and to the north by a refectory with an oven, a pilgrim’s hostel and a communal burial chamber.