Unique double baptistery and mysterious marble block uncovered at Byzantine cathedral in Israel

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In a new article published in the Palestine Exploration Quarterly, researchers Dr. Michael Eisenberg and Dr. Arleta Kowalewska describe a recently excavated Byzantine-period cathedral at Hippos. Archaeologists revealed a second photisterion (baptismal hall), making this the only known early cathedral with two photisteria as well as a unique marble block with three cavities, unprecedented in archaeology, possibly used to hold oils for ritual anointment.

The ancient city of Hippos

The ancient city of Hippos was part of the Roman Decapolis, located about 2 km east of the Sea of Galilee in modern Israel. Situated upon Mt. Sussita, it was established by the Seleucids and grew into a flourishing city during the Roman period. Its regional importance was maintained throughout the Byzantine period until about the beginning of the Islamic conquest around 635 CE.

Hippos was the only Christian city at the time near the Sea of Galilee. "By the 6th century, the region was inhabited by a mixed Jewish and Christian population, but Christianity had already long been the preferred religion in the Holy Land and the Byzantine Empire... Hippos was never a Jewish city but a pagan one; hence, the conversion to Christianity was swift and complete," Dr. Eisenberg explained.

The city featured at least seven churches, of which at least five have been partially excavated, while the remaining two are only known from surface remains. These churches were all built around the 5th or early 6th centuries CE. Although never destroyed or officially ceasing their liturgical functions, the buildings slowly fell into ruin after the Islamic conquest, likely in part due to Hippos's declining importance throughout the early Islamic period before it was ultimately abandoned after its destruction by an earthquake in 749 CE.

The largest of these churches was a cathedral, which was partially excavated in the 1950s by the Israel Department of Antiquities; three of its components were unearthed, although the findings were not published in their entirety, save for inscriptions found in the basilica dated to 590/1 CE.

New excavations

Beginning in 2021, parts of the cathedral were further excavated by the Hippos Excavation Project. "The cathedral basilica is fully exposed," explained Dr. Eisenberg, "and part of its atrium, but the annexed courts and rooms are hardly explored; among them is the diakonikon to the south of the basilica, where the southern photisterion was very partially exposed."

During excavations, an unknown southern wing (the diakonikon) of the cathedral was uncovered, containing two halls divided into three spaces. The larger eastern hall was floored with decorative stone tiles and divided by ornate marble screens. On the eastern side of this screen, a baptismal font was found tucked in a corner between the northernmost screen and the basilica wall; the space is interpreted as a second photisterion.

The discovery of the second photisterion within the same church complex makes the Hippos cathedral the only early church known to date with two photisteria. Adjacent to it was an antechamber that likely functioned as a sort of waiting room for those about to be baptized, though the full purpose of the second baptismal hall remains uncertain pending further excavations.

Of most interest was the discovery of an unusual rectangular marble block with three identical bowl-shaped cavities found near the baptismal font. No other archaeological parallels have been found.

"At first look, the block resembles a mensa ponderaria (public measuring table); however, the cavities are identical and have no outlets at their bottoms," Dr. Eisenberg explained. "Next, a less probable explanation is that it was used as an offering table; it is rather clear that the cavities were designated to hold liquids, and perhaps an offering table, as is familiar in research, would have contained various cavity sizes.

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"The block was located on the floor, with additional liturgical implements a few cm from the baptismal font, so they were used together in the baptismal rites. Double anointing, pre- and post-baptismal, is well known as part of the early Christian rites, so the idea that the block held oils is very plausible. We cannot conclude whether those were different oils or the same oil used in a three-fold ceremony. Different oils have been known since antiquity for their use in anointing."

According to Dr. Eisenberg, understanding the purpose of the block was the most difficult of the recovered artifacts. "We approached several colleagues who specialize in early Christian liturgy and baptismal rites. One of them was Prof. Robin Jensen, professor emeritus at the University of Notre Dame, U.S., a leading expert on Early Christianity."

In addition to these findings, a reliquary, bronze candelabrum, and decorative supporting block were uncovered. These items at the Hippos Cathedral reveal key details about early Christian worship practices in the region, including that baptism may have involved multiple rounds of anointing, according to ancient texts that describe holy oil anointing (pre-baptismal), followed by three-immersion baptism and a final anointing post-baptism with another oil.

Sadly, further excavations of the area are limited by the infrastructure of a nearby modern park.

"The Hippos Excavations Project will focus its research in the coming years on the remarkable necropoleis, with very promising results that will be reported in the future," Dr. Eisenberg said.

Written for you by our author Sandee Oster, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information

Michael Eisenberg et al, The Southern Photisterion at the Hippos Cathedral and its Unique Byzantine-Period Liturgical Implements, Palestine Exploration Quarterly (2026). DOI: 10.1080/00310328.2026.2634232

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