Located on the southeastern edge of the Dead Sea, the Sanctuary of Agios Lot (Greek for “Saint Lot”) is a site rich in history and religious significance. Overlooking the modern city of Safi, known in biblical times as Zoara, this ancient Jordanian sanctuary offers profound insights into early Christian and pre-Christian worship in the region.

The Sanctuary of Agios Lot, also known as Deir ‘Ain ‘Abata, is prominently depicted on the sixth-century Madaba Mosaic Map of Jordan, where it is identified as the Sanctuary of Saint Lot. Its presence on this legendary map underscores the importance of the site during the Byzantine period – a time when Christian pilgrimage sites in the region were especially revered.

At the heart of the sanctuary is Lot’s Cave, a rather small, modest room measuring 2 by 2.5 meters that was once paved with fine white marble slabs. But don’t let its size fool you: this cave is believed to be the place where Lot and his daughters took refuge after the destruction of Sodom, as recorded in Genesis 19. The cave (which is also depicted on the Madaba map) has yielded archaeological finds that reveal a long history of occupation, with the most recent materials dating back to the early ninth century CE. This suggests that the cave remained a site of religious importance well into the early Abbasid period, possibly reflecting continued veneration by both Christians and Muslims, as the Qur’an also recognizes Lot (Lut) as a prophet.

The surrounding monastic complex, which includes a triple-domed basilica church, is an excellent example of Byzantine architecture. The church, built around the sacred cave, features intricate mosaic pavements inscribed in Byzantine Greek dating from April 606 CE, and May 691 CE. These mosaics, along with two Greek inscriptions invoking Lot himself, confirm the Christian identification of the site.

The complex includes several domestic quarters typical of and essential to monastic life. These include a common dining room or refectory with long benches, a pilgrims’ hostel, and a common burial chamber. The burial chamber, which was once a cistern, contained the remains of twenty-eight adult males, one adult female, and three infants, suggesting that it may have also served as an infirmary or hospital for monks and pilgrims visiting the region.

At the southern end of the site, near a wadi, is a large water reservoir. This reservoir, 6 meters deep and covered with arches, was probably filled by aqueducts that brought water from higher up in the wadi. In addition, water was available from a spring at the foot of the mountain, to meet the needs of the monastic community, and the pilgrims visiting the sacred site.

Archaeological excavations in the early 1990s unearthed a wealth of artifacts, including Early and Middle Bronze Age pottery. These finds suggest that the site has been considered sacred for millennia, possibly in connection with Lot’s biblical narrative.

Today, the Sanctuary of Agios Lot is preserved and was even partially restored by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. This ancient site continues to attract visitors, offering a unique perspective on the intertwined histories of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and the enduring legacy of sacred spaces in the region.