North aisle of the church leading to Lot’s Cave

The cave's doorway

The sandstone pilaster capitals on either side of the cave's entrance are carved with Maltese-type crosses with traces of red paint. The lintel has a similar cross in the center flanked by two rosettes.

Lot's Cave

The cave which the early Byzantine Christians believed was the place where Lot and his daughters took refuge, is the focal point of the entire monastic complex. Excavations inside the cave revealed a series of steps leading into a very small room measuring 200 x 250 cm, paved with white marble slabs.

Bronze Age pottery vessels (3rd millennium BC)

Found in the lowest levels of Lot's Cave, they proof that it has a long history of occupation. Some of these pots must have been seen at the site by early Christians who would have associated them with the Old Testament story of Lot and therefore considered them holy. On display at the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth.

Central nave and chancel

The basilica was found particularly well preserved to a height above the cornice where the vaulted roof began. The nature of the remains led the excavators conclude that it was peacefully abandoned and did not suffer destruction either by earthquakes or invaders.

The altar zone or chancel is elevated from the rest of the central nave and was separated by screen plates made of imported white marble. On the wall of the apse is a three-stage synthronon (semicircular priest's bench.) The chancel's mosaic (covered by sand for protection), dated to A.D. 605 is decorated with typical early Christian/Byzantine motifs such as birds, a lamb and a peacock, all surrounded by grape vines. In the center, is a stylized chalice and below it an encircled cross inscribed with the Greek words TELOS KALON, which means "Good End."

The central nave's mosaic (described below) is partially shown today to the visitors. Left of it can be seen remnants of the heptagonal ambo, or pulpit.

Mosaic pavement in the nave

It has a six-line Greek inscription which names the clerics, governor, and probably the mosaicist (Iannis son of Sabinaou). It also describes the site as "Agios Topos," a Holy Place, which suggests a biblical episode, and the church as a basilica, which means that it was large enough to accommodate pilgrims. The date of the mosaic (691 AD) is significant as well, since it is already during the period of Umayyad Islamic rule (636-750 AD.)

These observations by the excavator Dr Konstantinos D. Politis also draw special attention to the floral designs around the inscription: "Its long sprawling branches tipped with large orange-coloured leaves are reminiscent of the painted decorations on Nabataean fine ware pottery. Indeed, this motif may mark a continuity of Nabataean art styles emanating from Petra that lasted well into the early Islamic period." Nabataean pottery sherds from 1st cent. BC - 1st cent. AD where found on site.

The large cistern

To the south of the church, there is seven meter deep, arched reservoir, which was covered by palm trunks and fed by a complex water catchment system, with settling tanks and internal conduits. The structure is comparatively very large which indicates that Lot's Sanctuary once attracted numerous pilgrims.

View north in direction of the refectory (dining room), kitchen, and pilgrim's hostel.

A gravel road from the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth leading up to the site and a stone-paved stairway to the church facilitates access. The church has been conserved and provided with a shelter.

Statue of the Wife of Prophet Lot

A rock formation overlooking the highway and Dead Sea, close to the Wadi Mujib entrance, is said to be the remains of the salt pillar that was Lot’s wife. "However, as they were leaving the burning city of Sodom, Lot’s wife disobeyed God’s order not to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:26).