The basilica IV
Basilica
IV
lies at a
short distance to the southeast of Basilica
I. It is a three
nave basilica with a conch to the east, a narthex and an atrium to the
west. The lower parts of the inside walls were decorated
with marble revetments, and the upper sections with inlaid mosaics. The floor in the
nave
and narthex
was laid with
marble,
and that of
the side
aisles
with
brick. Two
rectangular
chambers built outside the north side of the atrium were added at a later date;
one of them probably functioned as the mitatorium and had mosaic floors, while
the other was used by
pilgrims.
Moreover, it seems that rectangular chambers
were added to
the south side
of
the atrium, which had
four galleries
and
tribunes. Construction
work on the
church
and
modifications to it both date to the
6th
century.
Glossary (7)
basilica:
type of large church, divided internally into three or more naves. The central nave was usually covered by a raised roof with windows that illuminated the space.
apse or conch:
Semicircular
structure
at the east end
of a basilica. Internally covered by a semidome,
while externally
with a tiered
roof; can be
horseshoe shaped,
rectangular or
polygonal.
narthex:
oblong reception area
extending
along
the western side
of a basilica. Originally the east portico
of the atrium,
it was later
incorporated into the
church, and served
as a waiting area for catechumens, who were not allowed to
attend the Divine
Liturgy.
atrium:
quadrangular forecourt of basilicas, surrounded by porticos. Porticos had functional purposes: they served as a waiting place before entering the church for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and provided shelter for the congregation. Generally, the atrium isolated the church from the surrounding space. It contained fountains for the symbolic cleansing of the hands and feet and for performing the service of Sanctification.
marble revetment:
facings of colored marble slabs that covered walls from the floor to the starting point of arches.
mosaic:
patterns or
images composed of small, colored tesserae. Mosaic
decoration can
be applied
to all the surfaces
of a building:
floor, walls or ceiling.
gallery or tribune:
upper story of a church above the side naves and the narthex.
Information Texts (1)
The basilica I:
Basilica Ι was unearthed in the centre of the early
Christian city, on the ruins of a Late Roman bathhouse. It is a three nave basilica with an apse to the
east, and a narthex, exonarthex and atrium to the west.
The floors of the side aisles and atrium were decorated with colourful
mosaics, while that in the nave and narthex was covered with marble slabs. Outside the main body of the church,
archaeological excavations brought to light more religious buildings added to
the south and north of the narthex, exonarthex and atrium.
To the north of the basilica is a mid-6th century vaulted chapel
with a mosaic floor, probably the Diaconicon, leading to another
rectangular chamber to the west, probably the mitatorium.
The church is thought to have been built in the early 6th century, with further
interventions and additions in later years. At a later phase, when it was long abandoned
and falling in, a room was built in the middle of the north aisle to
house a family that settled in the ruins.
Bibliography (1)
1. Ζήκος Ν., Αμφίπολις. Παλαιοχριστιανική και βυζαντινή Αμφίπολις, Athens, 1989
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