DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26282#0134
Chapter Eight
after its top had been dismantled to protect the
scene of the Nativity painted on the east wall of
the northern aisle. Its height was that of the
arcade that it filled. The passage in this wall was
0.80 m wide and 1.80 m high; red sandstone was
used for the construction of the pillars framing
this doorway on the northern side, topped with
a lintel that was at the same time a structural
element. Another block served as a lintel on the
other side, from the sanctuary. Outside this
doorway, a granite column shaft was used as
a kind of threshold [cf. Fig. 154].
8.2.4. Structure no. 4
The structure is located between the northern
pillars of the sanctuary and was erected in two
stages. First, a massive bench was constructed,
equal in width to the pilasters in the arcade
(1.00 m) and 0.80 m high. Granite architectural
elements: capital (A.2) and base (A.l), as well as
three pieces of granite column shafts (A.13; A.43)
and stone blocks were used for the purpose. The
bench was finely plastered [Fig. 112]. There is no
certainty about when the structure was erected -
most probably during the rebuilding of the church
in the second half of the 10th century. Then
a brick wall, 0.18 m thick and c. 1.20 m high,
was constructed on top of the bench and next to
its northern face. It was left without a plaster
coating [Fig. 111]. Likely an altar screen, the wall
did not hide from view the painting on the
western face of the northeastern pillar. Altoge-
ther, structure no. 4, which was more than
2.00 m high, was a very atypical altar screen,
Fig. 112. Late Cathedral. North side of sanctuary,
structure no. 4
both in the first stage of its construction and later,
after it was made higher. It was surely not
a structural element to support the arcades and
vaults. In the first stage of its existence it, too,
served as a place where the architectural elements
from the Cathedral of Paulos were kept.
8.2.5. Structure no. 5
This mud brick wall filled the bay between the
pilasters of the south wall of the naos S.l and the
southeastern pillar, cutting off the southeastern
part of the naos [Fig. 113]. The wall was 0.75 m
thick and had a passage in the southern end,
0.75 m wide and 2.57 m high at the highest point
of the arch. Above it was another arched opening
forming a small window. The wall was plastered
and whitewashed on either side and even painted
to judge by the remains of a painting at the
bottom of the west wall.
8.2.6. Structure no. 6
The wall, which was 0.40 m thick and 3.25 m
long, cut off the southern vestibule from the naos
[Figs. 114-115]. It was built on top of a mud-brick
pavement between the pilasters of the arcade in
the southern part of the church. A granite column
base (A.ll), set up by the eastern pilaster, was
made part of its structure. The wall was preserved
to its full height (2.10 m), and the top layer was in
header bond. In the western end of the wall, there
was a passage 0.55 m wide and c. 1.30 m high,
furnished with a horizontal wooden beam for
a lintel. The walls were plastered and white-
washed, the surfaces covered with drawings and
Fig. 113. Late Catbedral. Southeastern part of naos,
structure no. 5
PAM Supplement Series 1
123
after its top had been dismantled to protect the
scene of the Nativity painted on the east wall of
the northern aisle. Its height was that of the
arcade that it filled. The passage in this wall was
0.80 m wide and 1.80 m high; red sandstone was
used for the construction of the pillars framing
this doorway on the northern side, topped with
a lintel that was at the same time a structural
element. Another block served as a lintel on the
other side, from the sanctuary. Outside this
doorway, a granite column shaft was used as
a kind of threshold [cf. Fig. 154].
8.2.4. Structure no. 4
The structure is located between the northern
pillars of the sanctuary and was erected in two
stages. First, a massive bench was constructed,
equal in width to the pilasters in the arcade
(1.00 m) and 0.80 m high. Granite architectural
elements: capital (A.2) and base (A.l), as well as
three pieces of granite column shafts (A.13; A.43)
and stone blocks were used for the purpose. The
bench was finely plastered [Fig. 112]. There is no
certainty about when the structure was erected -
most probably during the rebuilding of the church
in the second half of the 10th century. Then
a brick wall, 0.18 m thick and c. 1.20 m high,
was constructed on top of the bench and next to
its northern face. It was left without a plaster
coating [Fig. 111]. Likely an altar screen, the wall
did not hide from view the painting on the
western face of the northeastern pillar. Altoge-
ther, structure no. 4, which was more than
2.00 m high, was a very atypical altar screen,
Fig. 112. Late Cathedral. North side of sanctuary,
structure no. 4
both in the first stage of its construction and later,
after it was made higher. It was surely not
a structural element to support the arcades and
vaults. In the first stage of its existence it, too,
served as a place where the architectural elements
from the Cathedral of Paulos were kept.
8.2.5. Structure no. 5
This mud brick wall filled the bay between the
pilasters of the south wall of the naos S.l and the
southeastern pillar, cutting off the southeastern
part of the naos [Fig. 113]. The wall was 0.75 m
thick and had a passage in the southern end,
0.75 m wide and 2.57 m high at the highest point
of the arch. Above it was another arched opening
forming a small window. The wall was plastered
and whitewashed on either side and even painted
to judge by the remains of a painting at the
bottom of the west wall.
8.2.6. Structure no. 6
The wall, which was 0.40 m thick and 3.25 m
long, cut off the southern vestibule from the naos
[Figs. 114-115]. It was built on top of a mud-brick
pavement between the pilasters of the arcade in
the southern part of the church. A granite column
base (A.ll), set up by the eastern pilaster, was
made part of its structure. The wall was preserved
to its full height (2.10 m), and the top layer was in
header bond. In the western end of the wall, there
was a passage 0.55 m wide and c. 1.30 m high,
furnished with a horizontal wooden beam for
a lintel. The walls were plastered and white-
washed, the surfaces covered with drawings and
Fig. 113. Late Catbedral. Southeastern part of naos,
structure no. 5
PAM Supplement Series 1
123