E05136: A 6th c. burial shrine for two adult males in the apse of the ‘rue Malaval Church’ in Marseille (southern France) was excavated in 2003-4. This shrine had pipes to allow a liquid to be poured over the tombs of the saints. Numerous other burials clustered around the shrine, suggesting devotees buried ad sanctos.
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posted on 2018-02-27, 00:00 authored by CSLA AdminRue Malaval church, Marseille / Basilique funéraire de la rue Malaval
The so-called ‘Rue Malaval Church’ in Marseille, southern France, was excavated in 2003-4. The church was built on the Roman road in the fifth century and was abandoned by the seventh century. The nave was 30m x 16m and the apse was 12m x 6.6m. In the choir, around forty sarcophagi, with fifth-century burials, were clustered around a raised memorial decorated with marble facings. This housed two large rose limestone sarcophagi in which two unknown males, were buried. One pipe entered the shrine from above and another at its very base. This was presumably to allow a liquid – most likely oil – to be poured over the tombs and then collected.
The so-called ‘Rue Malaval Church’ in Marseille, southern France, was excavated in 2003-4. The church was built on the Roman road in the fifth century and was abandoned by the seventh century. The nave was 30m x 16m and the apse was 12m x 6.6m. In the choir, around forty sarcophagi, with fifth-century burials, were clustered around a raised memorial decorated with marble facings. This housed two large rose limestone sarcophagi in which two unknown males, were buried. One pipe entered the shrine from above and another at its very base. This was presumably to allow a liquid – most likely oil – to be poured over the tombs and then collected.
