Provincial Cilicia and the archaeology of temple conversion
This is a study of the Christianisation of the built environment: the physical manifestation of the transition from paganism to Christianity in the Greek East. The core of this thesis comprises an archaeological exploration of temple conversion in terms of structural mechanics, logistics, chronology and socio-political implications. This work provides a re-assessmenot f the fate of the temples- their deconsecration,d estruction, preservation, abandonment and re-utilisation - by supplementing and questioning the historical record through reference to the wealth of available archaeological evidence. Detailed chapters on the mechanics and chronology of particular forms of conversion scenario illustrate the emergence of an architectural vocabulary of temple conversion from the middle of the Sth century. In order to assess the impact of change on a local level, these primary issues are addressed through the archaeology of provincial Cilicia. This sheds new light on several well-known temple conversions and raises important questions about those for which the evidence is less conclusive. It is through this kind of regional study that the variability in the fate of temples is realised and increasingly attributed
Bayliss, Richard Andrew
Christianisation; Greece; Antiquity; Byzantine
Provincial Cilicia and the archaeology of temple conversion. This is a study of the Christianisation of the built environment: the physical manifestation of the transition from paganism to Christianity in the Greek East. The core of this thesis comprises an archaeological exploration of temple conversion in terms of structural mechanics, logistics, chronology and socio-political implications. This work provides a re-assessmenot f the fate of the temples- their deconsecration,d estruction, preservation, abandonment and re-utilisation - by supplementing and questioning the historical record through reference to the wealth of available archaeological evidence. Detailed chapters on the mechanics and chronology of particular forms of conversion scenario illustrate the emergence of an architectural vocabulary of temple conversion from the middle of the Sth century. In order to assess the impact of change on a local level, these primary issues are addressed through the archaeology of provincial Cilicia. This sheds new light on several well-known temple conversions and raises important questions about those for which the evidence is less conclusive. It is through this kind of regional study that the variability in the fate of temples is realised and increasingly attributed
provincial archaeology temple conversion study christianisation build_environment physical manifestation transition paganism christianity greek east core comprise archaeological exploration temple conversion term structural mechanic logistics chronology socio_political implication work provide fate temples preservation abandonment utilisation supplement question historical_record reference wealth available_archaeological evidence detailed mechanic chronology particular_form conversion scenario illustrate emergence architectural vocabulary temple conversion middle century order_assess impact change local_level primary issue_address archaeology provincial shed_new_light several well_known temple conversion raise_important question evidence less conclusive kind regional_study variability fate temple realise increasingly attribute