Une église byzantine découverte à Anâne (Liban Sud)

In 1995, the remaining mosaic pavements of a Byzantine church were discovered in Anane (occupied southern Lebanon), now fortunately preserved in Saida's Greek- Catholic cathedral. We can guess through their study, along with some photographs taken on the site itself, that this church was a quite typical basilica, with a narthex leading to the three naves building. A dedicatory inscription gives the names of John, a priest and Damianos, a deacon — while their bishop's is missing; the year is 651 [AD 541]. By the main threshold, a monogram-cross reads Light, Life. The mosaics show mostly geometrical patterns and motives, but in the central nave birds, fruits, ducks and jars alternate on the carpet. Parallels are to be found in the area, especially along the Phoenician coast (Zahrani, Khalde-Shuefat, Khan Khalde).Alpi Frédéric, Kowalski Slawomir, Waliszewski Tomasz. Une église byzantine découverte à Anâne (Liban Sud). In: Syria. Tome 75, 1998. pp. 231-243