Avdat Acropolis

City of Avdat--The city's acropolis was the high portion of the area, which includes a fortress surrounded by a wall and an area of worship, which, in turn, includes two large Byzantine churches standing in close proximity.

The Roman Corbita or Merchantman

Reference:

Henry B. Culver, Gordon Grant (illus.) "The Book of Old Ships---," Dover Publications Inc. New York, 1962, Page 40.

The Barque Provencal

Lateen rigged on the Foreast, square rigged on the Main mast, and lateen rigged on the Mizzen mast.  This type of vessel  was very popular in the Mediterranean, and was known in the above form and name along the southern coast of what is today France.

Byzantine Fortress -- Avdat

                                                    Byzantine/Roman  Fortress --

After the Roman residential quarter at the Avdat site the path runs through the South gate into the rectangular fortress as you see in the drawing.  A vantage point in the southeast corner offers a view over the whole extent of the site with its (partially restored) walls and towers, a large cistern in the center of the courtyard and the remains of the Late Byzantine Chapel against the North Wall.  The fortress had its own system of collecting and stockpiling rainwater -- in this enormous cistern with a capacity of some 200 cubic meters, carved out of stone.  A pillar holds up the ceiling of the cistern, and the ancient plaster inside can still be seen on its walls.  A passage in the North Wall gives access to the Roman Military Camp which measures about 90m (100 yds) square.  The fortress, Roman Camp and the City of Avdat are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Byzantium Quarter -- Avdat

Wall of the Acropolis -- Avdat

Section of walls in Avdat

Sangarius Bridge (Roman)

Double-Arch Construction (See "Avdat")

Sangarius Bridge Arch

The only remaining part of the old Roman Bridge.

The Southern Gate at "Avdat"

Avdat was a city on the Old Incense Road in the Negev Desert.  Founded in the 3rd Centurt BC, it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 7th century AD.  It was the second most important city along the Roman Petra-Gaza Road.  It was inhabited by Nabateans, Romans, and Byzantines.

Pentacastos (Five Pulley Crane)

Segovia Aqueduct (Roman)