The Problem of Identification of an Episcopal Complex: Cases of the Residences of the 4th–6th Centuries in the Prefecture of Illyricum
Keywords:
Balkans, Eastern Adriatic, episcopal complex, palatial architecture, Late AntiquityAbstract
This work is supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant 25-18-00656) and done at the Research Institute of Theory and History of Architecture and Town Planning — branch of the Central Research and Project Institute of the Construction Ministry of Russia.
The archaeological research of many Late Antique episcopal complexes has been going on for several decades. However, the issues concerning their identification and functionality are still debatable. Nevertheless, recent studies of the ensembles built within the prefecture of Illyricum in the 4th–6th centuries allow to enrich our understanding of the phenomenon of a Late Antique episcopal complex, as well as to clarify its architectural specifics.
The newest archaeological data on the complexes in the Balkans facilitate detailed analysis of the characteristic aspects of functioning for the episcopal complexes both in the largest religious centers, such as Stobi and Salona, and in the “small” bishoprics, like those in Byllis and Louloudies.
A special layout of the architectural ensemble was a hallmark for the Late Antique residential complexes built in the Northern Balkans, both episcopal and secular. It includes an apsidal hall symmetrically flanked by smaller orthogonal rooms. As a rule, the hall was situated at the side of a peristyle court, which was opposite to the main entrance to a residence. This layout was not characteristic for the episcopal complexes in other regions of the Late Roman Empire.
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