Guangyu He
Movement in Sebastia
The Palestinian flag was erected in the forum. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
In 1908, Harvard University designated a American archaeologist George A. Reisner to dig Sebastia.
Between 1920 to 1948, Palestine was controlled by the British Mandate.
In the wake of the 1948 Nakba, Sebastia came under Jordanian rule.
Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Sebastia has been held under Israeli military control, while the Palestinian Authority controls area A and B of the West Bank.
The Palestinians live in Sebastia, but the city is not always under their control.
Israeli soldiers in the forum.
The division into Areas A, B, and C is artificial and part of a transitional arrangement in which Area C temporarily remains under the control of the occupying power.
Israeli Archeology Department of the Civil Administration in Area C conducting archaeological excavations and surveys in Area C; granting permits for excavations, surveys, and building licenses; and granting permits for the transfer of archaeological objects from the Area C to Israel, including for participation in archaeological exhibitions outside the Palestinian areas.
The Israeli government did everything to justify their illegal and theft behaviour. The irony is the Israeli authority used a series of media tools to trumpet that they protect Sebastia. In addition to territorial control, Israel uses archaeology to exclusively promote Jewish history in the region.
Most of the Archaeological sites are divided into area C.
Most of the Archaeological sites are divided into area C.
There is the contrast of the number of columns collected from the main angle photographs. Most of columns were preserved in area C.
Introduction
The west colonnade had a slight slope downwards towards the north. Originally along this short side of the Forum there were 24 columns, and seven of these have always been visible, their faces much weathered and decayed by exposure. Others were broken off below the modern surface, but still approximately in position with their pedestals, while the remainder were represented by pedestals and a few bases, mostly moved out of position. The spacing was 2.5 m. from centre to centre of the columns, except at the middle of the west side, where a space was left 4.38 m. wide, as an effective entrance to the Basilica, the east doorway of which was opposite this point.
MOVEMENT
Model of the Forum in 1908.
Some architectural remains has disappeared from 1908 to 2013. The photographs and model show the movement.
A large number of northern archaeological material are occupied by stores. A large number of ruins are re-covered with mud. Pieces of column are located in the middle of the forum.
Stores and restaurants continue to expand taking over more of the archaeological sites. Roads were built over the ruins. Low walls were built on the sides of the forum. I guess the low wall can protect the archaeological material to some extent. It defined the boundary between the parking lots and the forum.
MOVEMENT
We do not only see movement in the disappearance of archaeological artifacts, we also see movement in the traces of action. It is possible to imagine that this column was once subjected to forces from different directions.
This is a collapse process. If Israel continues to occupy the area to divide the Sebastia, all the precious archaeological columns will collapse.
Stores on archaeological remiains
In the following galleries, the red parts are the parts that disappear or move.
Forum
Temple of Augustus
The temple of Augustus (“Augusteum”) was constructed in ~16BC by Herod the Great, as a gratitude to Caesar Augustus, who gave Herod territories as a present. In the midst of this city, thus built, had erected a very large temple to Caesar, and had laid round about it a portion of sacred land of three furlongs and a half, he called the city Sebaste.
Colonnaded Street
The Colonnade appears to have surrounded the hill with a cloister not unlike that of the Temple at Jerusalem, situate on a level terrace with a higher knoll rising in the middle. The remains are most perfect on the south, where some eighty columns are standing ; the width of the cloister was 60 feet, the pillars 16 feet high, 2 feet diameter, and about 6 feet apart.
Westem Gate
A number of round towers protected the gate. The base of the north tower is seen in the photo, and the modern road passes to the right of it. A section of the south tower is located behind the tree on the right.
St. John the Baptist Church
This small basilica was constructed in the 5th century, and dedicated to John the Baptist. According to a Byzantine era tradition, this is where John ‘s head is buried. The church was repaired during the 12th century.
Painting
The columns of the Sebastia were destroyed in the conflict between the two countries. Each metal pole symbolizes power, money and politics. They struggle against each other over the archaeological artifacts, eventually destroying the stage of the columns.
