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The Basilica Building
Dating to the 1st century CE, this building covered an entire city block, It measures 40 x 60 meters. The floor plan is much like a basilica, hence the name. The walls on the north and south are lined with small shops or rooms, but enter into the building, not to the exterior. The best description would be an indoor mall, but smaller in scale. The floor in the center held a large mosaic, and a pool at each end. The mosaic is of water scenes, fishes and the like. The walls were frescoed, and column bases indicate roof support. Several large areas were set apart, possibly for meetings, or special events. There were cisterns beneath the floor with Roman vaults, and the drainage system from the pools to the cistern, then taking the excess out of the building, is elaborate. The cisterns and pools were all lined with hydraulic cement to make them water-proof. The building was destroyed and collapsed, but it is evident that there was a second floor. And window glass has been found. The rubble was dug through in antiquity, due to the value of the items in the ruins. Nonetheless, we can see from broken remains that this was an upper-class market. Valuable oil and perfume, spices, glassware, and perhaps carved ivory from Antioch. Wine amphorae have been found in abundance. Many iron and copper nails have been found in piles. The building possibly went out of service around the Revolt of Gallus in 351, or the earthquake of 363 A.C. An unusual find are the many ‘pennies’ found lying directly on the floor. It indicates that possibly there was a money-changing activity here, and that the pennies were so insignificant that they were not picked up.
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