Avdat / Avda / Abdah / Horbat Avedat / Khirbet 'Abda / Oboda / עין עבדת

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Malle's font and the font illustrated in the Israeli site do not match -- it is quite possible that there are two fonts in the two different churches in this site -- TO BE COMPLETED]. The font illustrated in Malle (1994: p. 6) is sunken, very narrow and deep, in the form of a Greek cross, with the additional tank in the angle formed by upper and right arms of the cross. the Israeli web site shows a baptismal font of the sunken cruciform type, although the font is actually a raised tank; it has three steps on one side and three steps on the opposite side; in one of the quarters made by the arms of the cross there is a round well-like hole which Malle (1994) describes as an ablutions well, while the Israeli official web site [www.mfa.goc.il] describes as a baptismal font for infants/children. Malle (ibid.) gives the date as 4-5th century and the origin as Byzantine; in his illustration there are columns at the four corners indicating the existence of a ciborium [NB: the columns are not visible in the Israeli site image and it shows a totally different font]. Winter (1999) gives the probable date as mid to late 4th century and gives its location as being to the west of the atrium of the North Church. The font and the ruins of the church are documented and illustrated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site of the Israeli government [www.mfa.gov.il] as being in the North Church of the Avdat archaeological site.