19257 - PANEAS; Caesarea Philippi; Banוyas; Banias - At the opening of Pan cave.

The earlier Roman temple built at the entrance to Pan's cave was converted to a Christian holy site comprising of a large courtyard on the south, mosaic paved and accessed from the south, and a mosaic paved chapel, facing east and decorated by a separate mosaic carpet, on the north. The floor sank and glided westward. Likewise the two entrances to the courtyard. The northern wall of the chapel disappeared due to collapse into the cave. The pagan rock-cut niche, on the east, was converted to a shallow rectangular apse with a pit (for a reliquary?) at its bottom. In front - large patches of the mosaic floor decorated with crosslets was preserved. A plaster pilaster attached to the southern wall supported a roofing arch (not preserved). Access was, presumably, from the south, near the niche, or from the SW. In a later phase a stone beam was set over the floor next to the niche, serving as a stair. Many crosses are cut on a large quadrangular ashlar that was incorporated into a secondary entrance.