 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Type: Basilica
Date: 5th-6th century A.D.
Description:
Inside the ancients walls of Aigosthena, in the eastern side of the Corinthian bay are situated the remnants of an early Christian basilica of the early 6th century with a mosaic ground in the narthex and in the middle vessel. It is a five-aisled, Hellenistic type basilica – rare in the area of mainland Greece – with an external, semi-circular apse. Part of the basilica was a rectangular baptistery, which communicated with its southern vessel. A built font existed in the middle of the baptistery. During the middle Byzantine period, in the west of the apse of this old basilica was built an elegant, eight-apsed, small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This small church was built in the middle Byzantine period, and the presence of a monastery is conjectured by the remnants of buildings in the close environment. Coins found in the area (Konstantinos IX Monomachos and Manouel I Komnenos) indicate that the church must have operated during the 11th and the 12th century. It is mainly built with ancient material used for the second time and bears inscriptions. In its northeastern corner was found a votive inscription of the town of the citizens of Aigosthena “ poleos Aigostheneiton” to Constantine the Great’s son, Flavius Claudius Constantine.
Koder J., Hellas und Thessalia, Tabila Imperii Bizantini 1, p. 120.