335-360

The "kymeterion" of bishop Stephanos. Observation on the topography of early christian Lacedeamon

• Μπακούρου, Αιμιλία

In odos Kleomvrotou, Sparta, a lid with a funerary mosaic was discovered that belonged to a cist tomb for a Bishop, which had been dug into the door of a building, probably a church, at a later period, but while the church was still in use. The mosaic decoration of the church is dated to the middle of the 5th century AD. According to the funerary mosaic, which is divided into two parts, with an inscription at the north-west end and a large Latin cross at the south-east, this was the ‘Kymeterion’ of ‘Bishop Stephanos’, whose remains were not in the tomb, however.Through an analysis of the palaeography and style, and the interpretation of certain terms in the inscription, the find has been assigned to the category of funerary mosaics, associated with a similar type from the Tunisian series in N. Africa, and dated to the first half of the 6th century AD, probably to the reign of Justinian.Bishop Stephanos, who is presented as a regular member of the hierarchy (and probably of the orthodox apostolic persuasion), judging by the phrase ‘from the apostles’ in the inscription, has been assigned to the Bishopric of Lacedaemon and associated with the controversy surrounding the Acacian Schism (485-519). It has also been suggested that the absence of his remains from the tomb may also be due to these disputes, for there is no evidence that it was due to their routine removal (anakomidi).The early Christian church with the tomb of the Bishop has been associated with an early Christian cemetery discovered to the west, on the same street.Consequently, the tomb of the Bishop is used as a starting point for a general review of the buildings brought to light by excavations.Reference is made to the early Christian buildings of Lacedaemon known so far, and a number of points are noted for a new review of what is known so far of certain other buildings, which have been regarded as structures of the Roman period.The topographical observations suggest that early Christian Sparta did not create a new urban centre, but continued its life inside and outside the Roman boundaries, often using and modifying Roman buildings.In the first half of the 6th century AD, Lacedaemon was a large, flourishing city with a strong Christian community, of which Bishop Stephanos was the leader.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Τοπογραφία
• Burial
• Επιγραφές

Η υπογράφουσα ευχαριστεί θερμά την επίκουρο καθηγήτρια Βυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών Ελένη Δωρή για την ανάγνωση του κειμένου και τις παρατηρήσεις της., Περιέχει σχέδια, Το άρθρο περιέχεται στο τεύχος: Μέρος Α'-Μελέτες