Shivta - South Church

Columns and piers: 

There were twelve columns in the basilica, with the pilasters supporting the rhythm of the main colonnades attached to the western and eastern walls (built of fine ashlar). The pair of columns are attached to the pilasters of the western wall. 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, the average height is ca. 0.40 m. The two easternmost bays of the columns were incorporated into the chancel screen structure.

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

The columns are leaning on the stylobates, which are formed by rectangular slabs, and on the square plinths. Some of the bases seem to be attached to these square plinths. The lowest drums are ornamented with several horizontal moldings, of different wideness, and added by thin strips. There are no two identical bases. One of the bases, that was published by Segal, resembles Pseudo-Attic order. All these elements are carved at the lathe.

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

No capitals were revealed. Probably, one capital, preserved in the rooms to the south of the church, belonged to the church. It is comprised from plain moldings and rectangular abacus (probably, it is also a base).

Capitals materials: 
Limestone
Capitals: 
Typology
Order: 
Lathe-made horizontal moldings/strips
Decoration on the abacus: 
undecorated
Components of entablatures, arches and apses: 

Decorated voussoirs

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

Not all of the doorways which are adorned with lintels have also the pilaster caps and bases. The caps and bases have the pyramidal shape and decorated in a various manner. 1. Entrance to the monastery from the north aisle. Two caps are decorated identically, with plain bands in the upper an lower parts and criss-cross pattern in the central ones. 2. Entrance from narthex to nave. Two caps are decorated almost similar, with a rows of lanceolate leaves, plain bands and dog-tooth pattern. The bases are decorated with several horizontal bands, moldings and fillets. 3. Entrance from narthex to north aisle.The caps of the doorjambs are almost similar. Both of them are decorated with the criss-cross pattern in the upper band, with the branches with soft leaves from both sides and medallions in the central parts. On the left cap the medallion is stylized as an amphora, with the inscribed crux quandrata intersecting with crux decussata. On the right cap the medallion is adorned with bead-and-real motif, with a small fleury crux quandrata (Maltese). The bases are decorated with the criss-cross pattern and sort of bearded molding. 4. Entrance from Pool square to narthex. The bases and the jambs of both pilasters of the doorway were preserved. Together with the lower part of the jamb, the base if decorated with the vertical bands, adorned by criss-cross pattern from both sides and plain bands in the central field. 5. Southwest corner of the church, pile. A pyramidal pilaster base, decorated from three sides with the lattice of the diagonal intersecting lines. 6-7. Two members, that were attributed by Segal as earlier details of the Roman period, were reused as doorposts bases in the entrance from narthex to the baptistery. Probably, they were a cornice members. Two stones are decorated in a similar manner: the main tier is adorned with symbolic motifs of grooved palm leaves and a vase, the other tiers are not so wide and adorned with quasi-metopes and gliphs between them, dentiles, twisted rope motif and horizontal incised strips.

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: 

1. Lintel of the doorway in the northern wall of the church, leading to the northern chapel. The lintel is decorated with three medallions of equal diameter. The central is adorned with twisted rope decoration and has an inscribed crux quandrata, or Maltese cross. The lateral medallions are adorned with "wheel spoke" pattern. Geometric style. 2. Entrance from south aisle into chapel.Probably, the lintel is not in situ and was restored by Colt expedition. All the borders, except of the lower, are decorated with the rows of dentils. The central part of the lintel is allotted with the "ת"-shape frame: the lateral sides are adorned with criss-cross ("Union Jack") pattern and the lower side is adorned with the stylized reals, or lanceolate segments. There was a certain image in the central field, but it was deteriorated (probably, a cross). The lateral arms are decorated with round protrusions (or dots, probably with the rosettes) and below them -- engraved palm branches. 3.Entrance from narthex to nave. The lintel is decorated with three medallions, inserted into the interlacing stem, which forms external frames of each of the medallion. All the stems and medallions are beaded, as well as the free surface of the lintel (horror vacui). The central medallion has an inserted crux immissa gemata. The decoration of the fields between the arms in the upper part is not clear, while in the lower the Greek letters A and Ω are discernible. The right medallion is adorned with the "whirling wheel spoke", the left one -- with the six-petaled rosette. The style of carving is comparatively delicate. 4. Entrance from narthex to north aisle. The lintel is decorated with three smooth medallions with the crux quandrata gemata inscribed into the central one. The medallions are flanked from both sides by the architectural motifs of bicolumnar aediculae with arches. There are grape clusters and stems between the medallions. 5. Probably, the lintel, that was reused in the scalaria of the mosque near the Southern church, was originated from it. It is almost completely deteriorated, but the remains of three medallions with the crux decussata and rosettes are discernible. PS: a. Baly in 1935 has also noted that In room E to the south of the church a carved lintel dated to the earlier part of the fifth century was found. The date was damaged, though Negev noted it was 415-430 and noted the construction of the rooms adjacent to the church. b. The doorway into the southern aisle is topped with the arch, which is decorated with criss-cross pattern along the whole length.

Typology
Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Lintels
Jambs
Thresholds
Central pattern on lintel: 
Medallion
Cross
geometric patterns
Lateral patterns: 
Six-petal rosette(s)
Spoke-wheel
Materials of lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Limestone
Lintels and jambs: 
Window pans, frames and piers: 

There is a small window in the wall between the narthex and the southern adjacent rooms. Tapering towards the exterior side.

Typology
Window Types: 
Rectilinear
Window frames materials: 
Limestone
Window frames: 
Chancel screen posts: 

None of the chancel posts are preserved, but probably they were carved from Proconessian marble. as everywhere in the Negev churches. According to the plan and presumable restoration, there were more than eight of them in the chancel screen. There are several square sockets preserved in the bema. Also the are hemicircular sockets in the bema of the northern chapel, probably, for the columns that were used as posts.

Chancel Screen posts: 
Chancel screen plates: 

According to the presumed reconstruction of the chancel screen there were at least ten or twelve panels hold by posts, but none of them is preserved or documented. Probably, also carved from Proconessian marble. There are slots for the panels in the columns of the bema and in the bema foundation.

Chancel Screen plates: 
Altar plates: 
Altar plate or chancel screen panel with Greek inscription was published by Negev (Negev 1981: 56; Pl. 22, Ph.49). The frame was molded in a usual manner: plain ledge with the groove and cavetto profile, connecting the border with the sunken central field.
Typology
Type: 
Rectangular (angulus)
Decoration: 
with molded edges
Altar plates (mensae) materials: 
Marble
Altar plates (mensae): 
Ambo members: 

Just only the square basement of the ambo was found, by the left side of the altar. There are four sockets for the ambo legs in each corner. The limestone is different from the masonry and others details: it has a greyish tint.

Typology
Ambo members: 
Lower base other
Ambo materials: 
Limestone
Ambo: 
Decorative reliefs: 

There is a slab with the line of dentiles in the southern rooms of the church. Another one slab is decorated with the palm branch.

Decorative reliefs materials: 
Limestone
Decorative reliefs: 
Pavement: 

The south aisle was paved with limestone, the north aisle with limestone with a little marble at the west end.

Typology
Pavement: 
Slabs
Pavement materials: 
Limestone
Revetment plates: 

The nave was paved with marble (deteriorated), the north aisle with limestone with a little marble at the west end. The inscription in the south aisle recorded the laying of the floor in A.D. 640.

Typology
Revetment: 
Marble slabs
Revetment plates materials: 
Marble
Revetment plates: 
Basins: 

A leg of the cylindrical form, diminishing towards the top, is located in the southern rooms of the church. Unidentified and not documented yet. Probably, a leg of a cantharus, that could be in the narthex or church itself.

Typology
Leg for the basin: 
base
shaft
Basins materials: 
Limestone
Basins: 
Liturgical objects materials: 
Limestone
Other: 

There are some graffiti in the apse of the church and Greek inscription of one of the floor slabs.

Other: