Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

HAWARTE

SYRIA

that is, the narrow space under the narthex
of the first church. As a preliminary step, a
stretch of the narthex mosaic about 1.80 m
by 1.60 m, left in place by the previous
excavators, was lifted and transported to
the museum. The border of this mosaic is
still blocked by the modern house standing
directly over it.
Under the mosaic level a trench was
excavated on both sides of a foundation dug
into the mosaic by the builders of the
second church. This done, we found our-
selves between the exposed fundations of the
church on the west and south (Fig. 2), some
4 m below the level of the earlier mosaic,
and the original east and north walls of the
mithraeum vestibule (Room B). The fill

consisted for the most part of broken tiles,
most likely from the roof of the room, and
loose stones, all thrown in to support the
narthex mosaic dated to about 400 AD.
The north wall, which is bedrock with
small stones and tiles filling the cavities
(seen already in 1999) was exposed again
and consolidated. The painting is badly
damaged due to the poor quality of the
support, but the subject is clear: two facing
lions tear apart little black men, presumably
representing some evil forces (Fig. 3). It was
estimated that the original west wall of this
room runs not further than 50 cm behind
the foundation of the church facade.
The east wall of room B had been used as
a foundation for the dividing wall between


Fig. 3- The north wall of Room B with remains of the lion painting
(Photo T. Szmagier)