Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

MAREA

EGYPT

The first step of the stairs matched the
western entrance in width {.Fig. 4\. In front
of it, a small open space was uncovered
(B3), measuring 7.48 m by 6.71 m. The
marble-slab pavement concealed two
stylobates oriented E-W: one which is an
extension of the wall lining the shops and
the other 4.00 m to the north of it. An
Attic marble column base was found in
situ on the first of the two stylobates. An
identical base lay in the rubble. This
suggests the existence of a portico.
Perpendicular stone walls ran on either
side of the entrance; only fragments
immediately next to the wall were
preserved.
Between the shops there is a small room
(B2 — store?), 1.50 by 4.29 m, once
connected with the neighboring B1 (the

door was later blocked). Channel Q3 runs
under this room [cf. Fig. 2],
Behind the west wall two per-
pendicular walls were built out of whatever
was available, including a partly eroded
limestone column drum; these walls
formed two units, B4 and B5.
The former protected a round bread
oven (05), 1.20 m in diameter, built of red
brick (7 courses preserved, maximum
height 0.50 m), surrounded by a row of
stones, the filling hole in the southwestern
side {Fig. 5). The bottom was paved with
limestone slabs.
A fragment of marble column shaft
with preserved molded base was found in
the northwestern corner of the courtyard.
Most of this season's registered finds
came from beyond the west wall of


Fig. 4- Byzantine baths. The western entrance with a small space with two stylobates for
columns in front of it. View from the north (Photo P. Suszek)

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