Apheka, modern Fiq, is mentioned by Eusebius (1) as a "great village east of Hippos" (2). This is confirmed by Greek writings from the site that also hosts Aramaic inscriptions. With the advent of Islam, Aphek appears on the list of villages and fortresses conquered in 638 C.E. as per "Futuh al-Buldan" (3) by the famous 9th century Muslim historian al-Balathuri (4). By the 13th century, the place had acquired the Arabic name Fiq, as attested by Yaqut (5). The Arab village was depopulated in 1967 when the Golan was occupied by Israel. Kibbutz Afik was constructed near the abandoned settlement in 1972.
Seen are different views of a naked boy playing with what looks like rattle instruments. This bronze statuette from Fiq is 15 cm in height and 6.3 cm in width. It dates from the first century C.E. and was acquired by the National Museum of Damascus from Mr. Georges Dahdah about 1945.
1. Eusebius (about 260-340 C.E) was a Christian historian and polemicist.
2. Hippos (Greek) or Susita (Aramaic) was a city in the Golan during the Hellenistic-Roman era. The site was subsequently named Qalaat al-Husun (the fortress of horses) by the Arabs. It currently is under Israeli occupation.
3. Futuh al-Buldan literally "conquests of lands or countries".
4. Al-Balathuri died circa 892 C.E.
5. Yaqut al-Hamwi (1179-1229) was a medieval Muslim geographer whose opus magnum is Mujam al-Buldan (Dictionary of Countries).
Thomas M. Weber
Sculptures from Roman Syria
Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft. Worms
2006
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