D.040 Baptistery

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Creator

Denis Baly

Image ID

D.040

Alternate Identifier

B04.040

Subcollection

D: North Africa

Abstract

The baptistery in one of the basilicas of the Sabratha complex.

Description

"Northwest of the theater are ruins of two Christian basilicas of the fourth through sixth centuries. The spacious scale of these basilicas gives evidence of a once large Christian population. Ruins also remain of a large Christian basilica built near the sea during the time of Justinian in the sixth century. The larger basilica has a baptistery connected with the church; the smaller basilica has a separate baptistery. We know that Sabratha was at one time a bishopric and that its bishops attended church councils. Christian architecture was entering its maturing form that would prevail for centuries to come" (Oden, 268).

References

Oden, Thomas C. Early Libyan Christianity: Uncovering a North African Tradition. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987. https://books.google.com/books?id=0YqIz1b15ZIC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false (accessed August 29, 2005).

Image Notes

Creation date unknown. Processing date unknown. Formerly cataloged as B.04.040. Notes written on the slide or index: Sabratha Baptistery.

Curator Notes

Legacy Subcollection: "D: Sabratha"

Image Format

35 mm slide

Geographic Reference

Sabratha, Libya