During Christian times, worship from the coast of the Alyki peninsula shifted to the top of the hill. The entire complex is the result of four building phases from 400/425 to the beginning of the 7th century when it was abandoned. It consists of three churches, of which two are visible, known in the literature as the north and south basilica.
The first and oldest is under the north. The two basilicas are built next to each other. The southern one is older and bigger. It belongs to the type of three-aisled, wooden-roofed basilica with a narthex semicircular arch to the east. It is divided into three naves with two colonnades. The columns are cylindrical inset from brown marble and are crowned with Ionic capitals.
Around 500 the northern basilica was founded. It also belongs to the type of three-aisled basilica. In the area of the Sacred Step, the remains of the synthron are preserved. The barrier of the presbytery consists of pesses with conjoined colonnades and pediments with scaly ornament. Around 600, the narthex and atrium with two apartments were added on the east side. The northern compartment had a burial destination, while the southern one was the baptistery. The swimming pool had a circular shape and was carved into the rock. After their destruction at the end of the 6th century, the area of the atrium served as a cemetery. The position is abandoned at the beginning of the 7th century. A.D.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou
