Baptistery of Butrint - Butrint Natinal Park, Albania
Posted by: 
oiseau_ca
N 39° 44.733 E 020° 01.371
34S E 416281 N 4399972
a baptistery located in the Butrint National Park, Albania
Waymark Code: WM11K1X
Location: Albania
Date Posted: 11/04/2019
Views: 3
This baptistery is located in the Butrint National Park, Albania.
According to Wikipedia, "the baptistery at Butrint, an archeological site in Vlorë County, Albania and part of the Butrint National Park, is a late antique structure known for its well-preserved mosaic pavement. The centrally planned, circular baptistery is also notable as an ancient Roman monument adapted to the needs of Christianity.
Constructed in the 6th century A.D., the baptistry was excavated in May 1928 by an Italian archaeological mission to Albania, led by Luigi Maria Ugolini.
The round structure of the baptistery, measuring 14.5 meters in diameter, was built within a large rectangular space that was either part of a Roman bathhouse or household bathing complex. Archeologists have identified a small room to the northeast of the baptistery as a caldarium, or hot-room, of a Roman hypocaust heating system. The prior existence of this system may explain the choice to build a baptistery there.
The cross-shaped font, the baptistry's central feature, has two interior steps, allowing those about to be baptized to step down into the basin. There, the bishop would have poured water over them with a small vessel. The eastern corner room held a water tank and praefurnium, or furnace for heating water. The hot water was piped underground directly to the font, where it was mixed with cold water from a cistern built into the older Roman caldarium.
Situated within an arched structure in the baptistery wall is another small fountain. It is positioned directly facing the entrance, an unusual characteristic for a baptistry. Archeologists believe it served a symbolic purpose as an image of the Fountain of Life, a Christian iconographic symbol associated with baptism.
Two concentric colonnades (each with eight columns, for a total of 16) once supported a wooden roof. Made from Egyptian granite, the columns stood on a variety of repurposed bases. However, the Ionic impost capitals, which feature acanthus leaves and crosses, were likely made specifically for the building. The wall’s interior also featured 24 half-columns and was covered with plaster and painted. A low bench, possibly once covered with polished marble, ran continuously around the foot of the interior wall".
Source: Wikipedia
Note: Regarding the baptistery mosaic pavement, since few years, it is usually covered by a layer of sand in order to preserve it. It is encovered on special occasions only. Our guide showed us a photo of the uncovered pavement on her phone.
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