Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

PALMYRA

SYRIA

THE NORTHWEST CHAPEL

At the northern end of the atrium, where
the Church Street reappears again, there
was a narrow door, originally under the
protection of the northern portico. It led
two steps down into a rectangular room,
4.30 m wide and 13.70 m long, ending at
the far end in an apse. This chapel
extended all along the atrium wall and
shared a part of its lateral wall with the
northern aisle of the basilica (cf. Fig. 1).
The apse, as wide as the nave, extended
on axis for 3-90 m, its curve being slightly
flattened. It opened once with an arch still
marked by two stumps of pilasters and was
paved with flagstones. The nave was

apparently lower, but at present it has
a plastered floor that is level with the
pavement in the apse.
There are at present no features related
to Christian cult practices left in the apse.
On the other hand, the southern wall of the
chapel has been singularized by two
columns and an ancient altar set against it
on the secondary floor. As this side
corresponds to the qibla, it is possible that
such an asymmetric arrangement might
have corresponded to a late use of the chapel
as a small mosque. This possibility will be
checked in the future when a blocked niche
in the same wall will be explored.


Fig. 8. The restored atrium of Basilica III, seen from the northeast. The south wall of the
Northwest Chapel visible in the foreground (Photo M. Gawlikowski)

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