Early Christian basilicas
Going up the hill, the visitor comes across the ruins of two early Christian churches. After the prevalence of Christianity and during the early Byzantine period, between 500 and 600 AD, there were two churches which were gradually built over the ancient sanctuary, on the top of the hill, and they were of a wooden roof basilica type.
The group of the churches, from 500 to 600 AD, did evolve in four different building phases and it got abandoned in 619, during the time of the Slavic invasions. In the ground plan which is presented, you could see the final phase. In both basilicas the sanctuary is separated from the main church with a marble barrier altar screen, while the main church is divided into three naves by two rows of columns. The south Basilica is older, it is markedly larger and it features an ornate marble pulpit with a staircase. The north Basilica it has on its west side an atrium with the biggest part of the latter having been roofed. On the west we could also see a baptistery with a circular baptismal font in its center, but also a space for funerary use. Burials have also been spotted both in the atrium, as well as inside the North Basilica.
In both early Christian basilicas, the sanctuary stands out from the main church by a marble barrier of an altar screen, while the main church is divided into three naves by two rows of columns.
The south Basilica is older, it is markedly larger and it features an ornate marble pulpit with a staircase.
The north Basilica has on its west side an atrium with the biggest part of the latter having been roofed.
On the west we could also see a baptistery with a circular baptismal font in its center, but also there is a space for funerary use. Burials have also been spotted both in the atrium, as well as inside the North Basilica.
At the southwest of the South Basilica there are several surrounding buildings which were serving as utility rooms.
In the axonometric drawing of the two early Christian basilicas, which is reproduced at a scale of 1: 500, you can see the magnitude of the churches and as well as their outbuildings. Have a close look firstly at the roof of the atrium, with its opening to be placed in its center in order to allow the light to pass through, and also look at the upper room of the South Basilica, the roof of which stands out from the roof of the rest of the church.
At the photo you see the room of the Northern Basilica, which has funerary use. Within and outside the Northern Basilica and its atrium, thirteen tombs, which used to include bones of many people and few poor offerings, were discovered. The graves were covered with slabs of slate or marble. This cemetery was in use since 500 and for almost one century.
