DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26282#0062
Pachoras: The Cathedrals of Aetios, Paulos and Petros
4.5.2. Naos
The naos was a big rectangular space measuring
12.85 by 16.90 m. The apse on the east and the
two extensions of the transversal nave on the
south and north, in both cases 4.10 m wide, made
it a cruciform plan. The apse of the Basilica of
Aetios was enlarged to the same width as above.
This harmonious and highly symmetrical naos
was reached from the narthex through a central
doorway and another entrance on the south, as
well as from the north through an entrance
leading to the northern end of the transversal
nave and the staircase.
Separate entrances led from the naos to the
northeastern room, the later prothesis; a small
pastophorium south of the apse; the baptistery,
which had two entries - one from the main body
of the church, the other from the southern end of
the transversal nave; and finally the staircase.
The interior was lighted directly through
windows in the endings of the transversal nave,
of which only the southern one was truly
functional as it opened onto the cathedral square.
The northern windows opened onto the narrow
street between the cathedral and the South Palace.
There were presumably other windows in the
destroyed upper part of the cathedral walls,
through which the main body of the church must
have been lighted.
A number of windows in the north and south
walls lighted the interior indirectly through the
annexes and the narthex. These were big rectan-
gular windows, measuring 1.30 by 0.65 m, with
wooden beams as window-heads. Much smaller in
size (0.50 by 0.25 m) were the windows that
pierced the east wall, on either side of the apse,
separating the naos from the pastophories and
planned much higher up in the wall, that is, at
a height of 3.70 m.
The walls of the naos were preserved
consistently enough to a height of c. 4.30 m
above the floor (+11.25 m). Like the outer walls,
they consisted of stone blocks in the lower parts
and fired brick in the upper ones.
The interior division of the naos can be
reconstructed based on the preserved architectur-
al elements, of which some were found in situ.
Only the eight bases and three shafts of the
dismantled columns of the Cathedral of Paulos
were found still in place, but they sufficed to
reconstruct the principal aisles, which crossed in
the central part of the building. These aisles were
of equal width, equal also to the width of the apse
and the side arms of the naos, that is, 4.10 m.
Many more architectural elements were discover-
ed either incorporated into the pilasters during
the rebuilding or else evidently protected, indi-
cating that an effort was made not to remove
from the interior the architectural decoration of
the Cathedral of Paulos (see below, pp. 120-127).
The pilasters erected in the southern and northern
corners of the transversal nave ending had four
granite column bases incorporated into them. The
excavators believed them to be in situ and
Michalowski (1967: 66) interpreted them as part
of the triumphal arches that he reconstructed
here, in spite of the apse not having any such
finishing [Fig. 44 A,B]. A close-up analysis of the
manner in which these bases were erected on top
of the brick pavement [cf. Fig. 147] also sug-
gested that they had not been placed here before
the rebuilding. In the case of bases found in situ,
the brick pavement ran right up to them, as was
obvious on the southern side of base S. 1 [Fig. 43].
Further bases, together with capitals, were found
in four ‘caches’, three situated in structures nos.
4, 9 and 12 (see below, pp. 123; 125-6), which
came into being during the rebuilding of the
cathedral of Paulos, and a fourth consisting of
elements of architectural decoration, including
a base, concealed under the floor in the south-
western part of the naos, next to base S.4
[Fig. 45]. Three bases were discovered in the
‘caches’. Two other bases were set up in the
northern aisle of the Cathedral of Petros, under
the extreme arcades (eastern and western). To
sum up, nine other granite bases were discovered
inside the cathedral, indicating by their character
and place of discovery that they had been part of
the finishing of the Cathedral of Petros. If we take
into consideration the localization of the supports
in the naos of the cathedral church at Dongola
[Fig. 46], which had undoubtedly served as
a model for the Faras structure erected by Paulos,
Fig. 43. Cathedral of Paulos. Naos, base S.l in situ
58
PAM Supplement Series 1
4.5.2. Naos
The naos was a big rectangular space measuring
12.85 by 16.90 m. The apse on the east and the
two extensions of the transversal nave on the
south and north, in both cases 4.10 m wide, made
it a cruciform plan. The apse of the Basilica of
Aetios was enlarged to the same width as above.
This harmonious and highly symmetrical naos
was reached from the narthex through a central
doorway and another entrance on the south, as
well as from the north through an entrance
leading to the northern end of the transversal
nave and the staircase.
Separate entrances led from the naos to the
northeastern room, the later prothesis; a small
pastophorium south of the apse; the baptistery,
which had two entries - one from the main body
of the church, the other from the southern end of
the transversal nave; and finally the staircase.
The interior was lighted directly through
windows in the endings of the transversal nave,
of which only the southern one was truly
functional as it opened onto the cathedral square.
The northern windows opened onto the narrow
street between the cathedral and the South Palace.
There were presumably other windows in the
destroyed upper part of the cathedral walls,
through which the main body of the church must
have been lighted.
A number of windows in the north and south
walls lighted the interior indirectly through the
annexes and the narthex. These were big rectan-
gular windows, measuring 1.30 by 0.65 m, with
wooden beams as window-heads. Much smaller in
size (0.50 by 0.25 m) were the windows that
pierced the east wall, on either side of the apse,
separating the naos from the pastophories and
planned much higher up in the wall, that is, at
a height of 3.70 m.
The walls of the naos were preserved
consistently enough to a height of c. 4.30 m
above the floor (+11.25 m). Like the outer walls,
they consisted of stone blocks in the lower parts
and fired brick in the upper ones.
The interior division of the naos can be
reconstructed based on the preserved architectur-
al elements, of which some were found in situ.
Only the eight bases and three shafts of the
dismantled columns of the Cathedral of Paulos
were found still in place, but they sufficed to
reconstruct the principal aisles, which crossed in
the central part of the building. These aisles were
of equal width, equal also to the width of the apse
and the side arms of the naos, that is, 4.10 m.
Many more architectural elements were discover-
ed either incorporated into the pilasters during
the rebuilding or else evidently protected, indi-
cating that an effort was made not to remove
from the interior the architectural decoration of
the Cathedral of Paulos (see below, pp. 120-127).
The pilasters erected in the southern and northern
corners of the transversal nave ending had four
granite column bases incorporated into them. The
excavators believed them to be in situ and
Michalowski (1967: 66) interpreted them as part
of the triumphal arches that he reconstructed
here, in spite of the apse not having any such
finishing [Fig. 44 A,B]. A close-up analysis of the
manner in which these bases were erected on top
of the brick pavement [cf. Fig. 147] also sug-
gested that they had not been placed here before
the rebuilding. In the case of bases found in situ,
the brick pavement ran right up to them, as was
obvious on the southern side of base S. 1 [Fig. 43].
Further bases, together with capitals, were found
in four ‘caches’, three situated in structures nos.
4, 9 and 12 (see below, pp. 123; 125-6), which
came into being during the rebuilding of the
cathedral of Paulos, and a fourth consisting of
elements of architectural decoration, including
a base, concealed under the floor in the south-
western part of the naos, next to base S.4
[Fig. 45]. Three bases were discovered in the
‘caches’. Two other bases were set up in the
northern aisle of the Cathedral of Petros, under
the extreme arcades (eastern and western). To
sum up, nine other granite bases were discovered
inside the cathedral, indicating by their character
and place of discovery that they had been part of
the finishing of the Cathedral of Petros. If we take
into consideration the localization of the supports
in the naos of the cathedral church at Dongola
[Fig. 46], which had undoubtedly served as
a model for the Faras structure erected by Paulos,
Fig. 43. Cathedral of Paulos. Naos, base S.l in situ
58
PAM Supplement Series 1