E01651: Floor-mosaic showing a church, labelled 'of Saint Stephen' (certainly the First Martyr, S00030). Found in a church at Kapropera/El Bāra in the territory of Apamea on the Orontes (central Syria). Probably mid-6th c.

Fragmentarily preserved panel in the floor-mosaic of the north aisle of Church E.5 at El Bāra. Church E.5 was a richly decorated, three-aisled basilica, one of the latest churches built at the site in Late Antiquity (probably mid-6th c.). The mosaic is situated in front of the east entrance. Framed by a braid-like pattern.

The mosaic shows the south side of a church with apse, three aisles, including the nave with seven upper windows, and with four towers at the corners topped by conical roofs. The south wall is presented as a colonnade; between the columns there are three doors. The central door is closed; the right- and left-side doors are open, but partially covered by curtains.

The label is situated above the roof, between the two north towers:

τοῦ ἁγίου Στεφάνου

'Of Saint Stephen'

At the west end of the aisle, another preserved fragment of the mosaic bears the inscription:

ΑΤΟΝΟΥ

Text: Fourdrin 1992.