Die Kirche von Istlada in Lykien (original) (raw)

Istlada was a densely occupied hillside settlement and ancient village in the vicinity of the Lycian metropolis Myra. The only church, a three-aisled basilica, dates from the sixth century. It occupies a fringe position on the outskirts of the older settlement, where it was narrowly fitted in among pre-existing buildings and some Lycian sarcophagi. As a result the outwardly polygonal main apse is orientated to the northeast. Only the secondary round apse of a south-eastern chapel maintains a duly eastern orientation. In accordance with the sloping ground the basilica’s three aisles and the chapel each have a different floor level: the northern aisle has the highest floor level, the chapel the lowest. Communication between the aisles was further impeded by slabs inserted in the intercolumniation of the nave. The eastern end of the nave was similarly closed off as a bema; the floor of the nave was covered with mosaics; the main apse contained a synthronon; a makeshift ciborium above the altar was a later addition. In front of the basilica lies an open court with a central cistern as well as flanking passages and rooms to the north and west. On the southern side of the court an arcaded propylon opened on to a path along the southern fringe of the village and formed the main entrance to the church. More arcades connected the propylon with a passage that flanks the basilica to the south and leads to the southeastern chapel. Similar passages and chapels were common in late antique Lycia and served the veneration of relics. The basilica of Istlada is of standard type and will have functioned as the parish church. Later, possibly during to the Arab raids of the seventh to ninth centuries, the basilica collapsed and was eventually replaced by a smaller chapel. This happened to many late antique basilicas in Lycia, and it is not clear, whether the smaller chapels indicate settlement continuation or renewal or whether they were mainly memorial in character.