Shivta - Central Church

Columns and piers: 

There were eight columns in the basilica and two piers in the narthex, with the pilasters supporting the rhythm of the main colonnades attached to the western and eastern walls. All of the columns were comprised from lathe-made drums with the holes for the dowels. Their diameters are fluctuating from 0.40 to 0.55 m, their average height is ca. 0.40 m. The easternmost bay of the columns were incorporated into the chancel screen structure.

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

The columns and semi-columns attached to the walls were leaning at the monumental pedestals, with wide dado and horizontal plain moldings in the lower and upper parts. The borders between the moldings and dado are presented by the slanting surfaces. These upper and lower moldings are elaborated in such a manner that slightly protruding tori are framed by plain bands. The piers in the narthex are plain and have no moldings. There is at least one base is available. It is attached to the plinth and adorned with two protruding moldings with the plain band between them, so that the Pseudo-Attic effect is achieved,

Typology
Bases: 
Lathe-made horizontal moldings/strips
Pedestals: 
Square
Bases and pedestals materials: 
Limestone
Bases: 
Typology
Order: 
Lathe-made horizontal moldings/strips
Components of entablatures, arches and apses: 

A bracket decorated with criss-cross pattern was indicated by Wooleey and Lawrence, but not available anymore.

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

1-2. Two large capitals of the attached pilasters or half-columns were indicated in the Central church by Woolley and Lawrence. One of them was decorated with criss-cross band and dog-tooth pattern, another one was decorated on its three sides with two rows of plenty of volutes with the inscribed crux decussata in each. The last was also published by Segal, but nowadays the location of both of them is unknown. 3. The large pilaster cap was found in the church. It is decorated with criss-cross and dog-tooth patterns. 4. One pilaster cap of the doorpost was also drawn by Woolley and Lawrence. The cap was decorated with lanceolate leaves and criss-cross pattern. Its location is unknown. 5. Doorposts bases of the entrance into the southern aisle from south (from Governor's House) are pyramid decorated with dog-tooth pattern in the upper part. 6. One of the doorway between the southern rooms of the church is decorated with two caps adorned with rows of dentiles. 7-8. Doorposts of the entrance into the Governor's House, which is abutting to the church and connected with it. is decorated with pyramid-shape cap and bases. The right cap is adorned with criss-cross and bead-and-reals pattern. The left cap is adorned with criss-cross pattern and several plain bands.

Pilaster caps materials: 
Limestone
Pilaster caps and bases: 
Typology
Pilaster caps and bases: 
Molded (series of concave/convex profiles)
Truncated pyramid (Nabatean type): with relief/painted decoration

lintels, jambs, thresholds

Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 

Just only one lintel in the entrance into the Goveror's House is available. It is decorated with three medallions: the central medallion is the smallest and has an inscribed crux quandrata gemata (its arms are built from beads). The lateral beaded medallions are bigger in their diameter and have the inscribed Maltese crosses with fleur-de-lis motifs between the arms.

Typology
Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Lintels
Central pattern on lintel: 
Medallion
Cross
Lateral patterns: 
Cross(-es)
Materials of lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Limestone
Lintels and jambs: 
Chancel screen posts: 

There were at least eight-ten posts in the chancel screen, but only several sockets of them are preserved in the bema. Columns with bases incorporated into the chancel.

Chancel Screen posts materials: 
Limestone
Chancel Screen posts: 
Chancel screen plates: 

There were at least ten-twelve panels in the chancel screen, but only slots of rthem, carved in the bema and supporting columns are preserved

Chancel Screen plates: 
Bibliography: