Sussita - Northwest Church (NWC)

Columns and piers: 

There were 12 basalt drum-columns in the basilica and 20 basalt drum-columns in the atrium. Plenty of lathe-made drums were found, some of them in situ. The diameters and heights of the drums are not measured. In the atrium monolithic column shaft was found (broken into two parts, common height - 2.82 m). Most of them have preserved the traces of white plaster with simple floral and geometrical motifs. In the western part of the atrium members of the granite shafts were found, which are doubtlessly Roman spolia.

Columns and piers materials: 
Basalt
Other
Columns: 
Typology
Columns and piers: 
Comprised of drums
Apophyges superior/inferior
Bases and pedestals: 

The lower drums of the columns in the basilical hall and in the atrium were merged with Attic bases. The bases are comprised from two tori and scotia between them. Tori are close to each other by their diameters, as usual in the Byzantine bases. These main profiles have additional narrow fillets between them. In the basilica the bases are leaning at the plinths, which are doubtlessly Roman spolia. Actually these plinths are comprised from the same profiles: two tori and scotia between them, but the lower torus is wider than the upper one, which is a characteristic feature of the Roman Attic bases. The Roman bases are carved both from limestone and basalt. Their disposition under the columns is alternating in the chess-board order (though not strictly). This artistic method had no value as all the columns together with bases were covered with white plaster. Thus, there are double-level bases in the basilical hall, composed from lower Roman and upper Byzantine parts (both Attic). The Attic bases of the atrium are identical, without Roman lower bases. Only the western portico stood on tall limestone pedestals.

Typology
Bases: 
Attic (Ionic)
Bases and pedestals materials: 
Marble
Basalt
Bases: 
Capitals: 

The columns were crowned with the Pseudo-Ionic capitals. The capitals are merged with the upper drum of the shaft. There are 9 of them found in the basilica and 10 found in the atrium. They are cut from the local basalt in a certain local workshops and covered with a thin white plaster touched with light geometrical ornaments. All the elements of the classical Ionic order are presented in these blocked-out capitals: anulus (or anuli), echinus, 2 volutes, 2 balustri, canalis, abacus, special convex triangular protrusions near volutes (usually palmettos/acroteria were carved out of them). On some capitals one or two of these elements might be abolished. The proportions of the capitals were not similar: some were close to the Classical prototypes, others rather abstract from them. Some of the volutes have central eyes with incised on them crosses, rather primitive. The proportions of all capitals are different, so that they are no two identical among them. Probably, some of them are specially executed for the church, while some of them can be Roman spolia.

Capitals materials: 
Basalt
Capitals: 
Typology
Order: 
Pseudo-/or Blocked-out Ionic
Spolia
Decoration on the abacus: 
undecorated
Decoration on the astragalus: 
plain-molding

lintels, jambs, thresholds

Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 

The main basilica door is 2.0 m wide and ca. 2.80 m high. The door jambs are composed from the basalt Ionic or Corinthian architrave (several separate members), doubtlessly spolia. Architrave is comprised from a several rows of plain fasciae and topped by two plain ovolos and cavetto with narrow strips. The lateral doors are 1.15 m wide each.

Typology
Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Lintels
Lateral patterns: 
Spolia
Materials of lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Basalt
Lintels and jambs: 
Chancel screen posts: 

The main altar had the most prominent chancel screen, but only the limestone basement with the supporting holes for the posts and screens are preserved. There are only two square holes in the basement of the main chancel screen, each in the centers of the lines flanking the main entrance. The northern and southern aisles, converted into the chapels at a certain phases, were also adorned with simple chancel screens. The northern chancel screen consisted of two marble posts (each 1.09 m height) and two panels between them. The inner sides of the posts have iron rings for holding a chain (?), closing off the entrance into the chancel. Probably, there were columnettes in the second tier of the posts, identical to the southern aisle. The southern chancel screen is one of the best-preserved one ever found. Its basement was composed of two marble friezes with "peopled scrolls" motif, surely Roman spolia. Square holes for four posts were cut in it. All posts had square trunks. A small subsidiary post with rectangular section was added at the left side of the chancel screen. It was considerably reduced in its size and was used to close the gap between the plate and the wall. The lateral posts abutted to the walls. The posts that flanked the entrance, were considerably smaller in their size and crowned with two post-colonnetes with Corinthian capitals of the mask-acanthus type. The trunks of the posts are decorated with the carved geometric frames of rectangular form. The imprints of the silver crosses also can be noted. The corresponding basement of the chancel screen in northern aisle was cut from limestone. Probably a member of a marble post, which was found in the northern apse room, could belong to this chapel. There are also two circular chancel posts, each one with a slot for inserting of a screen. Their genesis and certain function are unknown.

Typology
Types: 
two-storied (with a colonnette)
Non specified type
round
Decorations: 
Grooved and molded frames
Chancel Screen posts materials: 
Marble
Chancel Screen posts: 
Chancel screen plates: 

Screen plates of the northern chapel were found. The southern panel, broken into several restorable members (0.80x0.95 m) was found. It is decorated with a cross engraved at the front side and with a rosette in a wreath at the rear one. Of the northern panel only some small members were found. Screen plates of the southern chapel were found. The left one was broken by a collapse, but after the restoration, all the pieces were collected. The other one was preserved completely (broken by vandals in 2009). The composition of decoration is identical for both, with some small individual features of interpretation in every example. The central plain field is framed by the three graduated profiles. In the very center of the panel there is a Maltese cross inside the wide laurel wreath. Cross at the Golgotha mount is depicted at the rear side of the panel (also inside the profiled frame). This image is not so well-elaborated, so that the traces of claw-chisel are visible.

Typology
Types: 
Blind
Decoration (Central motif): 
Greek/Latin cross within laurel wreath
Greek/Latin cross on Golgotha hill
Chancel Screen plates materials: 
Marble
Chancel Screen plates: 
Altar legs: 

Square holes for the altar legs were sunk into the mosaic floor at the four corners of reliquary in the southern chapel. One of the marble leg was found in situ (near reliquary), others found fragmentary. The northern chapel also had an altar table, leaned upon the legs. Plenty of pieces of them were found in the northern chapel. All the legs are standard, with some individual differences in interpretations. The legs are rather small in diameter. Their lower parts are emerged with the profiled bases and a sort of high pedestals, all cut from the same marble block. The profiles of the base are composed from several tori, scotias, fillets. Several tops are preserved: small Corinthian capitals of a one-tiered mask-acanthus leaves. Two of the legs were recomposed from pieces to their original height of 1.10 m.

Typology
Altar legs: 
Shaft
Capital
Base
Altar legs Materials: 
Marble
Altar legs: 
Altar plates: 
The reliquary in the southern chapel was placed under the altar plate (mensa; subsidiary altar), which was leaning on the proconnesian altar legs. The imprints of the mensa in the northern chapel on the mosaic floor trace the shape of a trapezium instead of rectangle. Plain proconnesian mensa, decorated only with the profiled frame and broken into several pieces, was found in the northern apse among other marble details. The pieces are not collected into the complete form. Probably, a broken plate was used, as the chapel was rebuilt in the Early-Islamic period from the remains of the church.
Typology
Type: 
Rectangular (angulus)
Altar plates (mensae) materials: 
Marble
Altar plates (mensae): 
Ambo members: 

Some of the colonnettes, found in the northern chapel and not suited to the altar tables, could be originated from an ambo.

Typology
Piers: 
Column/colonnette
Ambo materials: 
Marble
Decorative reliefs: 

A part of the basalt Ionic or Corinthian cornice was found in the main altar. It is composed of three strands: eggs-and-darts, dentils, cyma. Parts of limestone Doric friezes, a pilaster and a stucco decorative elements (horizontal profiles) were found among the masonry of the church. Spolia.

Decorative reliefs materials: 
Limestone
Basalt
Other
Decorative reliefs: 
Pavement: 

The basilica floors were laid with opus tesselatum. Probably main bema could be paved with marble slabs in opus sectile technique. The atrium is paved with basalt slabs.

Typology
Pavement: 
Slabs
Opus sectile
Pavement materials: 
Marble
Basalt
Pavement: 
Revetment plates: 

Deep rectangular niche in the northern wall of the southern chapel was revetted with the marble slabs, pieces of which are partially preserved. Broken marble slab was found in the inner diakonikon room.

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

In the northern apse an unusual colonnette was found. Its shaft is decorated with the diagonal flutes which ascends to the right in the lower part and to the left in the upper. Probably, it hold a basin or phiale.

Typology
Leg for the basin: 
base
shaft
Basins materials: 
Marble
Basins: 
Liturgical objects materials: 
Limestone
Marble
Liturgical objects: 
Large reliquary (0.56x0.45 m) of pink limestone was found in situ in the martyr's chapel (southern lateral room). Reliquary contained three compartments (one circular and two rectangular by the sides), each covered with a separate lid. At a certain phase more one smaller marble reliquary was placed upon it. The new reliquary was covered with a lid of a sarcophagus type. It has a circular opening in the center of the lid and three compartments inside.On the western side a "Greek" cross was carved, with the hole in the center, probably for a gem. Another one reliquary was found in the northern apse. It belonged to the northern altar respectively and was identical to the one found in the southern chapel. It must stood on a limestone stem-like support, partially still in situ. In the southern annex (diakonikon) one more reliquary of two compartments was uncovered. It was carved in the limestone block, identical to the blocks of the masonry of the church (all of them are spolia). An earlier proposal that it was a small, sparkling baptismal basin for new-born babies should be dismissed.
Typology
Reliquaries: 
Sarcophagus
Glass bottle
Liturgical objects: 
Other: 

A stone cross was found in the debris. It crowned the roof of the church even during the Early-Islamic period. A stone chair, probably from the theatre or odeon, was inserted near the main entrance from the left side at one of the latest phases of the church.

Other: 
Lighting devices
Lighting devices type: 
metal polycandelon
metal vessel
clay lamps
glass lamps
Lighting devices: 
Bronze polycandelon in the shape of double ring with seven small rings for glass lamps was found under the collapse of the arch in front of the martyrion.