PH01 Chhim — Byzantine basilica

Summary information

• Location

  GPS coordinates: 33.62365, 35.485

  Coordinates are approximate.

• Description

  The site is one of the early rural cult sites of the Lebanese mountains. The cult found its material expression in the form of a small rectangular sanctuary built in the early Roman period on the terrace near the southeastern edge of the village.  Several architectonical elements of the temple were inserted into different parts of the Byzantine church such as the apse, presbytery, narthex. The new building was placed in the north-eastern corner of the former temenos of the pagan sanctuary. The church itself was a simple three-aisled basilica of modest size (18.40 x 13.10 m) with the apses protruding from the eastern wall. The floor was entirely covered with polychrome mosaics with figural, geometric, and floral motifs. All were laid down during the first phase dated to 498 AD. Only the magnificent representation of a lioness in motion in the central part of the presbytery belongs to the later remodeling of the liturgical installations of the basilica. The presence of a double presbytery that occupies almost 2/3 of the central nave is considered a major feature as is the later removal of one of them.

  Tomasz Waliszewski, “From the Roman Temple to the Byzantine Basilica at Chhîm (South Lebanon),” Archaeology and History in Lebanon 23 (2006): 32-34, 36.

• Phasing

  Near the entrance to the southern aisle, a Greek inscription reads: “In the time of our most holy bishop Andrew, and the presbyter Thomas, and chorepiskopos Ianos (or Aeianes), in the year 600, 6th indiction.” The newly constructed church depended on the diocese of Sidon and Andrew can be identified by his homonym, Bishop of Sidon, signatory on the documents of the synod in Tyre in 518 AD. Also, the presence of chorepiskopos (or periodeutes in Syrian realms) suggests the increasingly tight control of the newly Christianized area by the ecclesiastical authorities. The date, calculated according to the era of Sidon (111 BC) would give year 489/490 AD but the use of the fiscal year of indiction is decisive and suggests the year 498 AD as a date for the mosaics and most probably the construction of the church. The presbyter Thomas mentioned in the inscription acted as a priest of the local Christian community at the time.

  Tomasz Waliszewski, “From the Roman Temple to the Byzantine Basilica at Chhîm (South Lebanon),” Archaeology and History in Lebanon 23 (2006): 34.

  There are two identifiable phases in the life of the basilica. The phase dated to the end of the 5th century AD contained in the central nave four different areas destined for liturgical purposes: the apse for the clergy, the altar, the elevated presbytery in the form of a platform (possible place of the Liturgy of the Word) and the second presbytery namely the central part of the nave encircled by the chancel screen. During the 6th century adaptation of the liturgical installations to new and unknown local ecclesiastical prescriptions, the westernmost presbytery was removed. The pavement in the apse, under the altar and that of the platform was levelled. The presence of an unexplained empty mosaic panel on the platform as well as traces of two tables on either side of it highlight the complexity of local liturgy.

  Tomasz Waliszewski, “From the Roman Temple to the Byzantine Basilica at Chhîm (South Lebanon),” Archaeology and History in Lebanon 23 (2006): 36.

• Bibliogaphy

  Waliszewski, Tomasz. “Du Temple Païen à La Basilique Chrétienne à Chhîm (Liban Sud) Évolution Tardive Du Sanctuaire (Fin IIIe – VIIIe Siècles Apr. J.-C.).” Topoi 16, no. 1 (n.d.): 93–106.

  ———. “From the Roman Temple to the Byzantine Basilica at Chhîm (South Lebanon).” Archaeology and History in Lebanon 23 (2006): 30–41.

  Waliszewski, Tomasz, Krzysztof Domżalski, and Ingrid Perisse-Valero. “Village Romain et Byzantin à Chhîm-Marjiyat. Rapport Préliminaire (1996-2002).” Bulletin d’Archéologie et d’Architecture Libanaises 6 (2002): 5–105.