PHOTIKI - 2010

Photiki. The 8th EBA reports research at the Byzantine church of the Panagia Labovithras in the centre of the ancient city, 4km northwest of Paramythia. The city was founded in the first century AD by Julius Caesar and reached its peak in Early Christian times. The church is a three-aisled basilica with a three-sided apse and a later narthex to the west. It was built on the site of an older Christian basilica, excavation of which revealed part of a floor mosaic with geometric and plant motifs (fig. 1), and a large number of architectural members many of which were re-used in the later structure. In the north part of the site, at Valsamari, lies the ruined church of Ag. Photeini (fig. 2). This Middle Byzantine three-aisled basilica had a tripart sanctuary and a later narthex: it was extended and modified during the Late Byzantine period. An older, Roman, building was also found.

At Rachi Maroutsi, northwest of Photiki, excavation took place at the church of Ag. Paraskevi-Paliokklisi, a three-aisled Early Christian basilica with a narthex and atrium (fig. 3). After the abasonment of the Early Christian building a small single-roomed chapel was built in the area of the holy altar. Inside and around the outside of the basilica were many tombs.