Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

A small test pit (3 x 5 m) sunk behind
the back wall brought to light three partly
preserved rows of seats resting on a clay
floor. These remains were discovered
immediately below graves of the Upper
Necropolis (G 200-202). The seats were
built of large blocks set along both of the
corner walls, at a distance of 0.40-0.60 m
away from them, the empty space next to
the walls being packed most probably with
earth and rubble to form the substructure
for the higher row (Fig. 4).
It is apparent, even following this very
limited investigation, that we have come
across yet another auditorium, for which

parallels have been found in other locations
on the site. A set of three similar auditoria
was excavated in the 1980s, some 25 m
further to the east.6) Although the precise
function of these halls remains unknown,
it is almost certain now that such auditoria
were constructed along the entire length of
the southern passage of the bath. The
newly discovered auditorium apparently
was not entered from the passage, as the
other halls, but more likely from the
portico. It is considerably larger than the
ones excavated previously, its length
reaching some 17 m along its north-south
axis.

SECTOR M - MOSLEM CEMETERIES

In the southern end of the trench,
overlying the fragmentarily excavated
Roman villa, the exploration of graves of
the Lower Necropolis (8th-9th century AD)
was completed. Five remaining graves
(nos. M 326-330) located in this area were
duly explored. They were structured

similarly to the other graves of the same
date: burial chambers made of large blocks
(most probably originating from the
portico backwall) covered with horizontal
slabs. No regular aboveground structures
were recognized. The graves may have
simply been left unmarked.

SECTOR M - EARLY ROMAN HOUSE

Excavations in this area, initiated in 1993,
have continued over the past few seasons
and have brought to light a well-preserved
example of an Early Roman house
inhabited in the lst-3rd centuries AD.7)
The layout of the villa is fairly typical,
consisting of a centrally located courtyard
giving access to two large triclinia situated
on the opposite sides. The southern one
was adorned with a pavement made of
multicolored marble tiles arranged in
a geometrical pattern, while the northern
one revealed a fine tesselatum mosaic sur-

rounding a multicolored emblema,8) In the
remaining rooms, a staircase, small lavatory
and most probably a kitchen were cleared.
The sumptuous decoration of the villa is
perhaps best evidenced not only by the
mosaics, but also by numerous fragments of
interior architectural decoration found in
the course of the excavations.
During the present campaign four other
rooms, located behind the western wall of
the courtyard and triclinium, were cleared.
These units served essentially household
purposes. All the explored rooms were

6) Z. Kiss, op. cit., 9-33.
7) G. Majcherek, PAM VI. Reports 1994 (1995), 11-20; G. Majcherek, PAM XI, op. cit., 27-38, fig. 5.
*8) See G. Majcherek, Mosaic Floors of Roman triclinia in Alexandria: Evolution of techniques and design, Proceedings of
the Eighth International Congress of Egyptology, Cairo 2000 (forthcoming).

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