VIRAN EPISKOPI - 2008

Viran Episkopi. N. Pyrrou (28th EBA) reports on excavation and restoration conducted in 2008 at the three-aisled church of Ag. Demetrios (Figs 1-3). The irregularities of the plan and the obvious additions attest to more than four structural phases, during most of which the building was used as a bath (from the Middle Byzantine era). Evidence for this original use includes cisterns (Figs 4-6), holes in the roof (Fig. 7) and pipes in the walls (Fig .8). The original, rectangular structure (central [Fig. 9] and south aisles [Figs 10) was elaborated towards the end of its life as a bath, the newer north aisle (Figs 14-17) itself having at least two phases. The floors were of tiles and plaster, and the walls plastered and painted red and yellow (Fig. 18). The transformation into a church (Figs 19-21) may be roughly dated by the gothic doorway (mid 15th century AD), though the lack of ceramic evidence makes dating imprecise. Alterations were undertaken in the Venetian period. Some tombs were located below the floors.