Page 113 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

A Walk to Caesarea: A Historical-Archaeological Perspective 99

two to three rooms, one of which was a caldarium with built bathstubs in its walls
(Figs. 104a–b, 105 a–d).

In the center of the northern section of the complex is a large courtyard adorned
with fountains and surrounded by marble columns (Fig. 106a–b). The main
reception hall, which also served as an official dining hall, stretched along the
western side of the courtyard. This was an apsidal hall with aisles on either side.
In its façade were two columns, taller than the other columns of the courtyard, set
between two pilasters [di stylos in antis façade]. A broad staircase extending along
the entire width of the courtyard ascended to the west, leading to this façade.
The hall in the middle and the flanking aisles were borne on four basement halls,
roofed by arches, which can be seen on the lower level. Another, smaller, apsidal
c

Fig. 105c–d
c. Proposed reconstruction

of the private bathhouse
of the northern palatial
mansion, north-south
d cross-section (7–7),
looking west
d. Proposed reconstruction
of the private bathhouse
of the northern palatial
mansion, west-east cross-
section (6–6) through the
well, looking south