Nessana - St. Mary Theotokos (South Church)

Columns and piers: 

According to the Ben Gurion expedition reconstruction, there were ten columns in the main basilical hall (and twelve according to the Colt's expedition), with the easternmost bay included into the bema area and with the pilasters on western and eastern walls supporting the main rhythm of the colonnades, one column in the room behind the southern chapel apse, five columns in the narthex, six columns in the southern chapel, with the attached to the eastern and western walls pilasters.

Columns and piers materials: 
Limestone
Columns: 
Typology
Columns and piers: 
Comprised of drums
Bases and pedestals: 

The bases are of the simplest pattern, decorated with lathe-made horizontal moldings, but only very scare remains were found. One base drum of the atrium colonnade showed the common decoration of its type, two raised rings about 12 cm apart, with incised grooves between them, so that an Attic effect is achieved.

Typology
Bases: 
Lathe-made horizontal moldings/strips
Bases and pedestals materials: 
Limestone
Bases: 
Capitals: 

The capitals are very similar to the bases.The core is widening toward the top. The decoration of one of the capitals consists of numerous horizontal lines topped with the wide abacus. The other is simpler and comprised only by the slanting surface and abacus. There are no two identical capitals in the church. One of the capitals bears an inscription, mentioning 601 year.

Capitals materials: 
Limestone
Capitals: 
Typology
Order: 
Doric
Lathe-made horizontal moldings/strips
Components of entablatures, arches and apses: 

One voussoir stone was found, decorated with the rows of criss-crossed pattern and larger crosses.

Typology
Components: 
Voussoir
Materials of components of entablatures, arches and apses: 
Limestone
Cornices, spring cornices, voussoirs: 
Pilaster caps and bases: 

The pilaster caps and bases had a pyramidal shape and decorated the entrances into the church. Some of them were found still in situ. Two caps were decorated with dense criss-cross pattern. The lattice of geometrical crosses included also bands with crux quandrata row, row of lanceolate leaves and small grooved leaves. The other cap is very similar to the base of the doorjamb. They are decorated with the stylized amphoras with the grooved lower parts and flanked by the large shamrocks or palmettos. The decoration also includes bands with ivy branch, crux quandrata, geometrical patterns. The cap and base are joined by the protruding moldings, expanding from the rim of the lower amphora and reaching the bottom of the upper one. There are also several other pilaster caps, decorated with criss-crossed patterns, small crosses and lanceolate leaves. One cap is decorated with the herringbone pattern and a Maltese cross. In the Colt's report it is not indicated where they were found and we attribute them to the St. Mary church only theoretically, due to that feature that it was more elaborately decorated with the limestone members, while the church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus is decorated mostly with the marble details and the pilasters are absent.

Pilaster caps materials: 
Limestone
Pilaster caps and bases: 
Typology
Pilaster caps and bases: 
Truncated pyramid (Nabatean type): with relief/painted decoration

lintels, jambs, thresholds

Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 

At least four limestone lintels were found scattered at the site. We attribute them to the church of St. Mary as it was more lavishly decorated, but it's only a theory. One lintel was completely preserved, it is decorated with the six-petalled rosettes inserted into the medalliions, with the Maltese cross in the center and two small branches by its sides. The other two fragments comprise crosses in the medallions, adorned with the twisted rope pattern and beads. The crosses have ancillary dots between arms or A and W letters. More one member could be a lintel part also. It is decorated with the grooved vase and stylized branches.

Typology
Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Lintels
Central pattern on lintel: 
Medallion
Cross
amphora
Lateral patterns: 
Six-petal rosette(s)
Floral
Materials of lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Limestone
Lintels and jambs: 
Chancel screen plates: 

Two fragments of the chancel screen panels are not indicated to any of the churches, but they are definitely of the ecclesiastical origin. We attribute them to the St. Mary church only theoretically. One of the panel was decorated with the conch (probably, with the central cross), inserted into the wreath, flanked by the crux immissa and framed by several profiles at the edges. The other one, also marble, is decorated with the grid of interlacing circles with the incised Maltese crosses.

Typology
Types: 
Blind
Decoration (Central motif): 
Laurel wreath
Conch
Decoration (Lateral patterns): 
Crosses
Compositions: 
Criss-cross patterns
Chancel Screen plates materials: 
Marble
Chancel Screen plates: 
Altar legs: 

Three fragments of the chancel screen posts are not connected to any of the churches, but they are definitely of the ecclesiastical origin. We attribute them to the St. Mary church only theoretically. Two tops with the plain Corinthian capitals, comprised by stylized corner leaves, and one profiled base can be identified as part of the chancel screen posts, second tier. See section "other" (Colt 1962, Pl.xviii, no.1). Lower part of the colonnette with the high sqaur plinth and series of moldings (base and apophyge inferior; see section "other", Colt 1962, Pl.xviii, no. 13).

Typology
Altar legs: 
Shaft
Capital
Base
Altar legs Materials: 
Marble
Altar plates: 
Mensa for the basin or altar table plate (see section "other", Colt 1962, Pl.xix, no.31)
Typology
Type: 
Sigma
Decoration: 
with molded edges
Ambo members: 

The ambo jutted out only slightly from the bema and stood near the easternmost column of the northern aisle. Members of marble columns of the ambo were preserved (see section "other", 

Colt 1962, Pl.xviii). No. 6, 9, 11: lower octagonal (or hexagonal?) bases with a series of moldings. Nos. 8, 14 - flutes pillows (capitals) of the ambo colonnettes.

Typology
Piers: 
Column/colonnette
Hexagonal base
Fluted pillow
Ambo materials: 
Limestone
Ciborium: 

Lower part of the column of ciborium with vertical flutes (see section "other", Colt 1962, Pl.xviii, no. 12)

Typology
Ciborium : 
Shaft
Ciborium materials: 
Marble
Pavement: 

The floors of the church, including bema, were paved with the limestone slabs.

Only the center of the apse was revetted with the marble tiles.

Typology
Pavement: 
Slabs
Pavement materials: 
Limestone
Marble
Basins: 

Apparently, a leg for the basin (see section "other", Colt 1962, Pl.xviii, no. 10). Tapering towards the top; adorned with apophyges.

Basins materials: 
Marble
Other: 

These marble members and one limestone are not indicated to any of the churches, but they are definitely of the ecclesiastical origin. We attribute them to the St. Mary church only theoretically. They could belong to the altar table, ciborium, leg for the basin or mensa for the basin, ambo.

Other materials: 
Marble
Other: