Bethlehem - The Nativity: Constantinian church - Nave

(6.8X16.36 m.) Two mosaic carpets enclosed in a frame. Central area is destroyed. Surrounded by a white frame and plain strip in black. The western carpet (6.5X6.8 m.)- decorated with medallions, inside each is a floral design. Border is plain strip followed by waves and then a row of interlaced circles containing four-petalled rosettes, colored band, acanthus leaves on a black ground forming round medallions filled with different fruits: In order from west to east on the north part- 2 pomegranates, pine cone, 2 pomegranates, gourd (?), 2 pomegranates, apple, 2 pomegranates, 2 rosettes, unidentified fruit, missing, grapes, 2 pomegranates, figs (?), rosette, 2 pomegranates, dates (?), pomegranate, 2 rosettes, 2 pomegranates. The inner border or field is pattern of interlacing circles. The eastern carpet- divided into six panels decorated with geometric patterns. The border is a row of interlaced circles in which the circles are cut by lozengrs, a interlacment with pattern B15 (two-strand guilloche running through a row of squares set tip to tip). The field is divided to six squars, 2.6 s.m. each, with a wave design border. A) North-west panel is divided into nine small squares by various meanders, consisiting of two types of bands, one is three-dimensional and the other two-strand guillouche; four of the squares are decorated with a meander and the remaining five each has a pattern: 1-The north east has in its center, interlacing circles surronded by a square; the central square is surrounded by eight small squares, two at each side filled with a Solomon's kmot (two interlaced oval rings); in the four corners are lozenges; the area between the differnt squares and lozenges is filled with a multicolored square. 2-The north-east square has four squares and four hexagons around a central star composed of eight lozenges. The squares are formed by different bands which also serve to divide the squares into four smaller ones, and to form two loops on the outer sides of the large squares, and to link them up with the hexagons. 3-The central square has a circle containing a Solomon's knot; the circle is surrounded by a two-strand guilloche running through a row of squares set tip to tip, and in the four corners a pelta. 4- The south-west square is mostly destroyed, yet there are remnants of meander. 5- The south east square is destroyed. B) The south west panel is mostly destroyed. The main pattern is octagons and squares which divided the panel into five octagons and four squares filled with various meanders. In the south-east octagon one can still distinguish a complex guilloche. C) The north panel of the central pair contains a circle made of concentric circles of curvilinear triangles with traces of a geometric pattern in the center. The four corners are filled with rays radiating from the angles- type I8. D) the south panel of the central pair is almost comppletly destroyed. It contains a circle with a border made of a row of squares between parallel lines, and in one of the corners a pair of leaves flanking several spirals. E) In the north-east panel is a circle containng interlacing squares and circles, in each there is a simple geometric pattern. The corners contain zigzag lines in various colors. F) The south-east panel has a circle containing a pattern of interlacing circles filled with simple geometric patterns. the corners are decorated with straight lines in various colors. East end of the nave- An inscription. White paving leading to the steps to the bema. At either side of the steps thaer are two squares, 72.5X72.5 cm. The north square has a border of plain strip followed by denticulated triangles. The field is divided by various meanders into nine small squares; four are filled with various meanders, two of the corner squares are filled with a Solomon's knot, one of the corner squares is filled with a multicolored square, the last corner square is destroyed; the central square contains an inscription. The south square is similar to the north in design. In it four of the squares are filled in with various meanders, and the other five are filled in with a Solomon's knot.