BSY_FB_06_p014

14

Derḳîta.

was divided by two rows of columns, of full
sub Corinthian order, which supported arches.

If these were originally a portal to the west
it was reused and the space was filled
up in medieval or later times. Two portals
in the sourth wall however are rich in carving
and one of them ^ (to E.) ^ bears an inscription in
Greek (WKP insc. 17) which gives the date of the
church as 417 A.D. The exterior ornament of
the building seems to have been meagre. The
windows have only a simple moulding above
them. The south portals of the church
open upon a small courtyard with a
residence on the south side not connected
with the court and an inscribed gate
adjoining the house on the west. This gateway
bears an insc. in Greek (W.K.P. 16) which bears the
baptistry date 430 AD.

Baptistry. Beyond the gateway, further
west, and forming part of the western boundary
of the courtyard ^ (see opp. p13) ^ is a small baptistry
with curved apse in perfect presentation.