Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

JIYEH

LEBANON

impressions of the balustrade or screen wall
dividing the aisle transversally were noted.
A section of the lime floor had been
preserved here, clearly revealing more
evidence of a screen or threshold. Directly
beyond it were traces of a simple white
mosaic floor. The north wall breaks off at
this point [Fig. 3}. This limited evidence is
the only indication of the internal divisions
of the basilica, but they are hardly sufficient
for proper interpretation.
Explorations in the southern aisle re-
vealed the lime bedding under a mosaic
floor, fragments of which were recorded in
situ. An apse-like construction, preserved
only in outline on the level of the floor, was
noted c. 12.30 m west of the east wall. It
occupied the entire width of the aisle. More
work is needed to explore this feature
thoroughly, although for now it may be
viewed as belonging to a building that pre-
ceded the basilica currently under investig-
ation [Fig. 8]. The wall closing the aisle on
the east had two large niches, evidently
preserving traces of wooden shelves and a
door. Taking this feature in connection with
the threshold indicative of a doorway
between the southern aisle and the
presbytery, we can assume that the eastern
end of the aisle was arranged as a closed-off
space for objects neccessary in the liturgy.
Work on the south outer wall of the
church uncovered evidence of a structure
that has been interpreted provisionally as
a chapel. The eastern end was closed with
a small apse furnished with at least one
niche. Fragments of wall painting preserved
in the northeastern corner consist of a yel-
low-pink-red border guilloche [Fig. 9]. This
was lifted from the wall and preserved by
the team's restorers before the close of work
for the season.
Following the clearing of about half of
the basilica area in the 2005 season, there
can be no doubt that the building was

bigger than previously assumed. The length
measured along the south wall is at least 39
m, the width about 22.60 m [Fig. 7].
The church in Jiyeh was indubitably
one of the biggest of the currently known
Byzantine churches in Phoenicia Maritima.
Unfortunately, the only sources to record
anything about its chronology are two
inscriptions now in the collection of the
Palace Museum in Beiteddine. One of
these is dated to AD 506 and
commemorates the laying of a mosaic floor
in the baptistery of the basilica (still not
located), the other comes from the narthex
and is dated to AD 595.3


Fig. 9. Fragmentarily preserved painted
decoration from a room to the south of
the church (Photo T. Waliszewski)

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