Har Senaim
Mountain and archaeological site in the Golan Heights
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Har Senaim or Senaim (Hebrew: הר סנאים, romanized: Har Senaʾim, lit. 'Mount of squirrels'; Arabic: Hafur el-Qurn,[1] or Tell el-Hafur,[2] or Arabic: جبل الحلاوة, romanized: Jabal Halawa, lit. 'Mountain of Sweetness'[3][4]), is an archaeological site that sits on a peak near Mount Hermon in the Israeli-occupied portion of the Golan Heights, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north east of Kiryat Shmona and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Banias.[5][6]
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 Interactive map of Har Senaim | |
| Alternative name | Senaim |
|---|---|
| Region | Golan Heights |
| Coordinates | 33.271202°N 35.729458°E |
| Type | Roman temple, Greek temple and ancient settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Shim'on Dar |
| Condition | Ruins |
History
The site features a Roman temple and settlement that has been included in a group of Temples of Mount Hermon.[7] The ruins of a second Ancient Greek temple were also found nearby. The Roman temple featured an altar carved with a relief of Helios, the sun god.[8] The shrine at Har Senaim was carved out of solid bedrock.[9] The settlement measures approximately 5,000 square metres (0.50 ha).[5] Various ancient Greek inscriptions were found at the site.[10][11] One inscription found on the altar called upon the great Gods in an appeal for the salvation of the Emperor Hadrian.[12] Other finds included a basalt animal muzzle and a brass ring that was decorated with the image of a merman.[13] Several coins were found dating to Byzantine and Mamluk periods. The complex at Har Senaim has been suggested to be a cult site or funerary garden and compared to the high places mentioned in the Books of Kings.[14]
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