Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

CHHIM

LEBANON

CHURCH OF PRESBYTER THOMAS (BASILICA B) (Fig. 2)

Work in the basilica could not be complet-
ed because of the north wall which was in
danger of collapsing. Once it was finally
protected during the present campaign, it
was possible to clear the northern aisle of
the 40 cm thick layer of soil which had
safeguarded the underlying mosaic (Fig. 3).
The layer yielded a considerable quantity
of roof tiles, some of them practically
whole and lying in clusters on the floor.
Apparently, the roof in the northern aisle
had collapsed while the church was still in
use or soon after it had been abandoned.
Indeed, this reconstruction of events might

be true of the entire building. Parts of
a bronze polikandelon, presumably from
the ceiling, were found on the mosaic floor.
The debris included blocks of stone, two of
which still preserved traces of painted wall
decoration; merely enough to say that the
predominant colors were red, orange, gray
and beige. Stones, earth and roof tiles pro-
tected the mosaic floor from any heavier
damage; only the central part was crushed
and sunk in places. The mosaic was sur-
rounded by a border of laurel leaves of the
same design as the mosaic in the southern
aisle (Fig. 4).


Fig. 1. Schematic plan of the village at Chhim. Excavated structures and objects identified during
a survey marked: A - temenos; B - basilica of the Presbyter Thomas; C - Roman temple;
D - tower; E - village; E.I, E.II, E.1II - oil presses; F - habitation and domestic complex
(Drawing M. Puszkarski))

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