Labraunda

Tetraconch_bath_tr.html
 
THE SITE How and Why to go there? Introduction Ancient authors about Labraunda The rediscovery of Labraunda The excavations The layout of the sanctuary A tour of the ruins The remains inside the Sanctuary Entrance area Andron B and C Terraces and the East Stoa Temple Terrace The remains outside the sanctuary Built Tomb Open-air Cult area Akropolis Stadion Sacred Way Spring Houses Tombs Other Fortresses Tetraconch Bath Bibliography Early Travellers Final Reports Preliminary Reports Papers, notes and other studies Preliminary Excavation Reports 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Website MapHow_and_Why_eng.htmlHow_and_Why_eng.htmlIntroduction_eng.htmlAncient_authors_about_Labraunda_eng.htmlAncient_authors_about_Labraunda_eng.htmlAncient_authors_about_Labraunda_eng.htmlRediscovery_of_Labraundra_eng.htmlRediscovery_of_Labraundra_eng.htmlExcavations_eng.htmlThe_layout_of_the_sanctuary_eng.htmlThe_layout_of_the_sanctuary_eng.htmlTour_of_the_ruins_eng.htmlTour_of_the_ruins_eng.htmlEntrance_area_eng.htmlAndron_B_C_Terraces_and_East_stoa_eng.htmlAndron_B_C_Terraces_and_East_stoa_eng.htmlAndron_B_C_Terraces_and_East_stoa_eng.htmlTemple_Terrace_eng.htmlBuilt_tomb_eng.htmlOpen_air_cult_area_eng.htmlOpen_air_cult_area_eng.htmlAkropolis_eng.htmlStadion_eng.htmlSacred_Way_eng.htmlSpring_houses_eng.htmlTombs_eng.htmlOther_Fortresses_eng.htmlBibliography_early_travellers_eng.htmlBibliography_final_reports_eng.htmlBibliography_preliminary_reports_eng.htmlBibliography_preliminary_reports_eng.htmlbibliography_other_eng.htmlbibliography_other_eng.htmlReport_2004_eng.htmlReport_2005_eng.htmlReport_2006_eng.htmlReport_2007_eng.htmlReport_2008_eng.htmlReport_2009_eng.htmlWebsite_map_eng.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2shapeimage_3_link_3shapeimage_3_link_4shapeimage_3_link_5shapeimage_3_link_6shapeimage_3_link_7shapeimage_3_link_8shapeimage_3_link_9shapeimage_3_link_10shapeimage_3_link_11shapeimage_3_link_12shapeimage_3_link_13shapeimage_3_link_14shapeimage_3_link_15shapeimage_3_link_16shapeimage_3_link_17shapeimage_3_link_18shapeimage_3_link_19shapeimage_3_link_20shapeimage_3_link_21shapeimage_3_link_22shapeimage_3_link_23shapeimage_3_link_24shapeimage_3_link_25shapeimage_3_link_26shapeimage_3_link_27shapeimage_3_link_28shapeimage_3_link_29shapeimage_3_link_30shapeimage_3_link_31shapeimage_3_link_32shapeimage_3_link_33shapeimage_3_link_34shapeimage_3_link_35shapeimage_3_link_36shapeimage_3_link_37shapeimage_3_link_38shapeimage_3_link_39shapeimage_3_link_40
 

Remains outside the sanctuary

The Tetraconch Bath

Welcome_to_Labraunda.html

This edifice is situated in the south-western corner of the sanctuary. After a preliminary survey in 2007 it was apparent that the area was principally settled in Late Antiquity and during the early medieval period. This assumption was made by the architectural outline of the tetraconch and also by the discovery of a sixth-century marble ambo just south of the building. The connection with Christian liturgical furniture implies a possibility of the area being a Christian centre during Late Antiquity. Perhaps the tetraconch was a baptistery, considering its shape. In 2008 the building was excavated, and it was evidently, in its first building phase, a late Roman bath.

Tetraconch, view from the east.

Due to the buildings insignificant size it was likely to be a private establishment, possibly aligned with other non-tempered rooms. The four horseshoe-shaped apses, covering two-thirds of a circle, was surely designed for individual practises. In a second building phase, preliminary dated to the late fifth or early sixth century, the hypocaust of the building was filled up with discarded pottery and other waste and the heating function of the bath was thus taken out of use. One of the marble washing bowls was reused in a filling of the second phase. The problem is still to determine the function of the building during this second phase; only the cocciopesto floor of the eastern apse is well preserved. However, the sixth-century ambo that was found in the same area, possibly belonging to a church situated on the same terrace, dates chronologically well with the reshaping of the tetraconch. Could the tetraconch have been a part of that Christian complex from the beginning of the sixth century? Future excavations will surely gives us the answer to that question.