Page 122 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich
P. 122
108 Archaeological Review
Fig. 119
The Golgotha Cross (crux
gemmata) with a Greek
inscription, found in the
debris of the chapel
0 10 cm Fig. 120
Clay Eulogia bread stamp
Fig. 121
A proposed reconstruction and c. 5 m wide, with plastered walls preserved to a height of c. 2.5 m. Pilasters
of the Chapel dedicated to protruding inward and outward from the central part of the walls indicate that the
St. Paul on the second story, ceiling of this part of the hall was supported by arches. And, indeed, during the
above the main part of the excavation a few stones from arches were discovered. The amount of the debris
dolia hall, Warehouse 1 removed from this part of the hall in the course of the excavation attests to the
existence of a second story above. On many of the collapsed stones a plaster coating
was preserved with remnants of frescoes that depicted colorful crosses studded with
gem-stones (Crux Gemmata; Fig. 119) and Greek inscriptions written in one line in
red. Among the small findings discovered in this area was also a round clay eulogia
(bread stamp) of the type that was distributed or sold to the faithful and pilgrims
after Mass. The round stamp was decorated with a cross within an arched ciborium;
it is surrounded by a Greek inscription – a blessing of Jesus and Paul (Fig. 120).
The stamped bread could have been baked in the
tabun in Warehouse I. These remains indicated
the possible existence of a chapel dedicated to St.
Paul on the second story, over the central part of
the dolia hall (Fig. 121). Two stone sarcophagi and
a burial inscription uncovered near them allow us
to assume that a burial chamber was adjacent to
this chapel, north of it, on a lower level (like a
crypt), which was reached by wooden steps.
Storehouses V and VI have rooms facing the
Cardo, which apparently were used as shops. In
a room at the junction, two benches have been
preserved and bone playing dice were found –
evidence of the games played at this corner.
From the northern side of the decumanus one
can climb up through several vaults located on the
northern side of decumanus S2 (vaults 9, 8, 19,
and then 54) to the observation point of the palace
