Sabratha became part of the Byzantine Eastern Roman Empire in the fifth century. As a result, the already Christian city saw an increase in its public Christian monuments, many constructed from former pagan buildings or using reclaimed building materials. 

Archaeologists have excavated four of the Christian churches in Sabratha, as have the Christian cemeteries established in the city during this period.

Basilica of Apuleius

Originally the city’s law court, the forum basilica was converted into a church in 440AD. The Roman building was adapted to meet its new purpose. Most notable was the addition of a square baptistery to the north side of the basilica. This extension, built from parts of other monumental buildings about the forum, consisted of a small eastern apse and a font in the centre. 

Basilica of Justinian

Situated to the north of the forum and built under the instructions of the Byzantine emperor, Justinian, this church was a new church constructed out of the remains of earlier buildings. 

The Basilica of Justinian consisted of three naves reached through three separate doors. It also had a raised presbytery, a nave and a stone altar, which was originally a cornice from the forum’s Capitolium.

The basilica’s most striking feature was its mosaic floor. This still exists, although it has been moved from the basilica to its own specially constructed museum elsewhere on the site of Sabratha. The main central mosaic is displayed on the floor of this museum, viewed from a wooden platform. Unfortunately, there is no room on the floor for the mosaics from the side aisles, so they are mounted on the flanking walls.

The central mosaic is an allegory for the soul’s journey to heaven, featuring an acanthus tree populated by a wide variety of birds, representing questing souls. The birds eat the grapes of salvation from a vine intertwined with the tree. 

Of the specific birds featured, the phoenix represents the resurrection of the spirit, the peacock the pinnacle of the soul’s evolution when it reaches heaven and a caged bird the soul imprisoned in the earthly body.

Other Early Christian Churches

Archaeologists discovered two other excavated churches along Sabratha’s main road, with the largest of the two predating the fifth century and entered through an atrium constructed from a demolished bathhouse. Later adapted to fit a Byzantine Christian style, the church’s baptistery moved from a southern to a northern position, and a marble altar was added to the centre of the nave.

The second smaller church also has its altar in a central position. This church was constructed from reclaimed materials from classical buildings, with its cipollino marble columns reclaimed from an arcade elsewhere in the city.

Christian Cemeteries

Two late Christian burial sites are known in Sabratha. The first is between the theatre and the temple of Isis. The site was identified as Christian from its one memorial inscription to a three-year-old girl called Irene, whose parents were Christian.

The city also had Christian catacombs sited between the theatre and amphitheatre. Discovered during the construction of the modern sewage system, several panels were found with the Chi-Rho monogram of Christ and memorial stones for the deceased, including their names and ages.

Resources

Ward, Philip, Sabratha: A Guide for Visitors. Darf Publishers: London