Identification of Ancient Modi'in and Byzantine Moditha – Towards a Solution of a Geographical-Historical Issue

The identification of ancient Modi'in, the place of origin of the Hasmonean family, is disputed. The paper presents the written sources and archaeological data, examines the validity of previous identifications, and offers a solution for the geographical-historical question. From an examination of the literary evidence it is difficult to precisely locate Modi'in. It appears that the settlement may have been located on an elevated site, near an ancient road from Lydda to Jerusalem, at the boundary of Jewish settlement in Judea, overlooking the coastal plain and the sea. In order to identify the place, the authors sought a site with significant remains from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, one that preserved the ancient name and lay within the relevant geographical area and near an important ancient road. The authors propose to locate ancient Modi'in-Moditha at Khirbet el-Hummam-Kh. el-Midieh (the sites appear under this name on the PEF Map, Sheet XIV), where significant remains from the relevant periods were found and the ancient name was preserved.