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.
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posted on 2016-06-22, 00:00authored byerizos
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>The label is situated above the roof, between the two north towers:<br><br>τοῦ ἁγίου Στεφάνου<br><br>'Of Saint Stephen' <br><br>At the west end of the aisle, another preserved fragment of the mosaic bears the inscription:<br><br>ΑΤΟΝΟΥ<br><br>Text: Fourdrin 1992.