Sunday, December 9, 2007

Early byzantine terms


Terms/baths/ of Nessebar are situated in the lowest part of the western cost of the peninsula, on the northeast of church “St. John the Baptist”.
About 2/3 of the area of terms are explored - entrance, central hall and warm premises with pools. The other part is under a modern building. Baths are supplied by underground sewerage.
They are built V-VI c. Soon then their plan is changed. Walls are covered by marble slabs. There are places where are preserved slabs about 3m high.
Four massive columns supported a cruciform dome above the central hall.
Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV Pogonat took treatment here in 680, according written data.
The baths are destroyed in the beginning of IX c. when Bulgarian khan Krum conquered the town/812/ and are used like agricultural premises.
In X?c. in the two corners of the central hall are built lime-kilns.
The reach marble decoration of terms is the main stuff. The terms are partly conserved.

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