An Early Byzantine Living Cross Relief from Caunus

Abstract

Caunus is known as a city in Caria which is located coast of Dalyan (Calbis) bay near Koycegiz in Mugla. According to ancient sources and several ecclesiastical documents Caunus was christianized at an early date and when the Roman Empire officially adopted the Christian faith, its name changed into Hagia-Caunus. Today, there are five churches in different places of the city which come to light thanks to the excavations. It is argued that a domed church on Palaestra Terrace which has been constructed between the first half of VIth century and the mid. VIIth centuries. Undoubtedly findings of around the church shed light on the Byzantine period of the city. There are a lot of remarkable architec-tural sculptures at the around and inside of domed church on Palaestra Terrace. One of these examples is found at the 1998 excavation season. The front face of the marble block is carved relief technique which is a cross motive with stylized leaves and the alpha (Α) and omega (ω) that de-pends from arms of the cross. As it is known in Byzantine Art, cross is used to symbolize the Christ’s sufferings, his sacrifice and the hope of salvation. Besides the alpha (Α) and omega (ω) means beginning and end in Christian belief refer to the eternal nature of God. Cross varieties are commonly used in Byzantine depiction art. It seems that the carved marble block must have been used as an architectural stone in the church. Thus in this paper I have tried to examine meaning of the composition and to give careful consideration to a series of questions linked to the context of use of the cross carved block in the church as well as discuss its significance within regional (Caunus ve Caria) and broader cultural contexts of Early Byzantine art.