Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

PALMYRA

SYRIA

STREET IN FRONT OF THE MARTYRIUM

Beyond the terminal northern arch of the
atrium the pavement stops and the street
reappears between two continuous walls
inherited from an earlier period. The
walking level of the street was about 50 cm
lower than the atrium pavement, a much-
worn stone being used as an intermediary
step (cf. Fig. 7). We have excavated
a stretch of this street running north for
about 10 m.
The ancient wall to the right received
a portal consisting of two jambs and
a lintel, which bore a Greek inscription,
unfortunately entirely illegible. The
weathered surface of joints indicates that
this doorway was transplanted from

elsewhere to give access to a small apsed
building adjoining the basilica on the
north. While this monument remains to
be excavated, one may safely admit it being
a chapel, very likely a martyrium of some
saint or saints buried there.
In front of the doorway a square surface
(4.75 by 4.85 m) was finely paved on the
same level as the street, that is, lower than
the atrium (Fig. 8). Further north, there is
on either side a single row of flagstones
along the wall. The angles of the paved
square are marked by four columns, while
two more are set further on along the
street. All six are founded below the
pavement and do not have any bases. They


Fig. 7. Atrium, view from the north. Entrance to the martyrium in the left foreground
Photo M. Gawlikowski)

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