865-871

New findings of the excavation research in St. Charalambos in Maroneia

• Αλιπράντης, Θεολόγος Χρ.

During the ten-year excavation research at the seaside of St. Charalambos in Maroneia, which was directed by the below signed researcher, foundings movable and immobile of great significance came into view.Particularly in this place, where nothing ground could be seen in the substance of the ground the remains of three successive temples of the middle - byzantine years (843-1204) are continually discovered and are erected im­ pressively.The older temple, which is dated in the 9th century, has not been revealed completely, yet.The excavation research has not been completed because of a large landfill of 8m. and the arising problems from the foundation on this temple of other two more recent temples.Remains of frescoes, which were found in the landfill and in depth about 7m, and parts of the painted decoration as well in the arch of the Prothesis of the same temple, where a big, decorated with stones cross is represented and someother remains of frescoes in the northern wall as well, century date the temple at the end of 9th century. It is about a particularly important find because there isn’t any other temple in Thrace with the painted decoration of that period and the monuments of that period are very few all over Greece.The painted decoration of this temple was made in the early years of the triumph of Orthodoxy and therefore the obvious classical influence is justifiable.After the destruction of the temple, which is probably dated in the early of 10th century, a small, single-space temple of 10th century was built in the space of its right aisle.After the destruction of the second small middle-byzantine temple at the end of 10th century-beginning of the 11th century, the Cathedral of 12th century was founded upon the remains of the last two temples.This new temple was discovered in depth 2.50m and it was really the Cathedral in Maroneia, as it is mainly proved by the existence of the bishop’s synthronon.(For a systematic publication of a part of the excavation finds see comment Theol. Chr. Aliprantis, Byzantine Maroneia, Excavation in St. Charalambos, Thessaloniki 1994).

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

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