NIKOPOLIS - Central Baths - 2001

Nikopolis, Central Baths. K. Zachos (ΙΒ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on the first excavation season in a Roman bath complex inside the Early Christian Walls, southeast of Basilica B and west of the modern road from Ioannina to Preveza, which focused on the well-preserved eastern area. Nine rooms were found, eight directly or indirectly connected with a main long hall (B) containing a piscina in the east part (entered via marble-clad steps on the west side): this hall contained terracotta antefixes, many spolia with relief decoration, and five inscribed stones. The bath complex had two phases: during the second, the area of the long hall was reduced by the insertion of interior walls, probably reflecting a change of use in Early Christian times. These walls and the floor were lined with hydraulic cement and marble revetment (carelessly applied and in secondary use). Part of the floor mosaic at the end of the bath, laid during the first phase, was found in the southwest corner of the hall: the passage along the west side of the room ran under the interior walls of the second phase. A bronze coin of Julia Domna (late second- to early third-century AD) was found on the west side of the piscina. A four-column colonnade separated the main hall from the piscina area: the marble-clad limestone bases remain in situ, with many fragments of unfluted marble shaft.

South east of Hall B (and communicating with it via two doorways in the north wall), room A was lined with vaults along its long sides. It had a mosaic floor with geometric and plant borders around depictions including dolphins and a lotus flower. Plain domestic pottery, fragments of a basin, the base of a stone vessel, and a Byzantine coin of the early 11th century were found. Later constructions lay outside room A, to the southwest. Three further rooms, the intercommunicating Δ and Στ, plus Ε, lay to the northwest of A. Room E had a groin-vaulted roof, and plastered walls bearing traces of painted decoration (in blue). Room E1 has the same plan and orientation as E and was likely similarly vaulted. Room Z, northwest of room B, a hall paralleled in plan and location in imperial baths, was probably a hot room.

West of this monumental complex lay room Γ, oriented north-south and completely separated from the surrounding rooms. The space was partitioned into three areas, with a large opening in the west wall to give light.