Abstract
The geological materials used in early Christian Syrian churches involve a lithic furnishing element: the lectern throne of the Syriac bema, a stone device used as a support for the holy books. Some inscriptions found in Syria suggest an interpretation for this artifact, located in the middle of the Syriac bema hemicycle, fronting the altar zone. These elements were made of basalt or limestone, depending on the geographical–geological context of the building. In this work, an unedited classification of the main typologies of thrones is proposed with a collatio between geo-archaeological data, epigraphic texts, mosaic inscriptions, literary sources, and findings. The role of this uncommon piece of furniture, uncertain up to now, is explained with a new interpretation coming from archaeological–architectural data combined with ancient sources. The study thus locates this architectonical sculpture in the building stratigraphy and also describes decorations from the lecterns, thus contributing to chronology analysis of published and unedited Syrian sites.
Highlights
Geological materials in Syrian late Roman architecture are an important component of cultural heritage, especially in the ambit of Christian archaeology
Similar U shapes in mosaic floors, fronting the presbytery area, are attested, for example, in Rayan, at the same phase of the mosaic pavement; in Banassara, as reported by Khoury in a 2002–2004 excavations report, a lithic structure was over the mosaic floor: it seems that the Syriac bema was added in a second phase of use of the church, after a restoration, covering part of the mosaic decoration [30]
The lectern throne or Θρόνος δεύτερος is a testament of lithic Christian cultural heritage, an element characterizing the churches of northern Syria during
Summary
Geological materials in Syrian late Roman architecture are an important component of cultural heritage, especially in the ambit of Christian archaeology. The Limestone Massif and the Basaltic Plateau from the late Pliocene are the geological units that were used to quarry for constructions because of their natural stratigraphy characterized by horizontal layers, which made them easy to cut and use as building materials [1,2,3,4]. This architecture is characterized by monolithic blocs in the construction of walls, as well as in covering systems, floors, windows, doors, and architectonical elements, and has capitals that show very homogeneous massive structures [5]
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