Image Details

The mosaic floor of the church. Seen at the top of this composite photo is the northern aisle containing 12 animal scenes and the entrance to a subterranean tomb. Originally a pillar (1) stood between the two commemorative panels (the matrons bearing gifts and the camel driver) and to the right of the six-line Greek inscription (2). At the entrance to the nave (3) is a seven-line inscription naming the church. The floor of the nave (4), although once covered with mosaics, was destroyed in antiquity; the southern aisle and narthex (not shown here) were paved with flat stone slabs. Between the columns supporting the roof of the nave on the southern side were geometric mosaic panels (5). Many individual sections of the mosaic depicted throughout this article may be located on this composite rendering of the entire floor.