Page - 98 - in The Power of Urban Water - Studies in premodern urbanism

98 ChristianeZimmermann Fig. 5:Corinth, Lechaionbasilica, baptistery. Fig. 6:Corinth, Skutelabasilica, baptistery. Fig. 7:Corinth, Kraneionbasilica, baptistery. basilicapredates thebasilica97 andcontinued tobeusedevenafter themainbasilicawasdam- aged and abandoned (presumably as a result of the earthquake in AD 551).98 It seems that a 3rd centurypagannymphaeumnear theLechaionbasilicawasconverted toChristianuse in the 6th centuryand fromthenon functionedasakindof architectural ‘introduction’ to thebasilica or different church buildings.99WilliamR. Caraher assumes that the nymphaeummight have served ‘toadvertise the imperial connectionsofawealthy local resident, to support theprestige of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, or to serve as a stopping point for travellers along the coastal roadon theapproach to the churchat theLechaion’.100 Featuringwaterprominently, thenym- phaeumcouldhave demonstrated to everybody the significance ofwater as ametaphor of life inChristianity and the importanceof its cultic use inbaptism, too. The basilica in Skutela, built in the 6th century AD,was located outside the ancientwalls in the northwest of the city; it wasmuch smaller than the Lechaion basilica, but itmay have beenconnectedwithoneof themartyrsofCorinth, too.101Thebasilica likewisehadabaptistery (Fig.4),witha roomfor catechesis, apassage (apodyterion?) andaphotisterionwithanoctago- nal basin (Fig.6).102 The rooms followed each other in an axis directed towards the east. Here again, single central doors leading to thenext roomwould clearly show the catechumens their way to the sacral centre, theoctagonal basin. Thewalls of thephotisterion formacross, too. The Kraneion basilica near the former gate to Kenchreai was also built in the 6th century AD.Abaptisteryon itsnorthsideconsistedagainof three rooms(Fig.4)andaphotisterionwith an octagonal basin103 framed by four pilasters connected bymarble bars,104 underlining the restrictedaccess to thebasinand itsholyness (Fig. 7).A small apsidal roomdirected to theeast as the apse of the basilicamight have served for anointment or shaving of the newly baptised and somighthavehada special function in thebaptismal liturgy, too.105 ThreeCorinthianbasilicas from the6th centuryAD (Lechaion, Skutela, Kraneion) eachhad abaptistery consisting of three roomsanda cruciformbaptismal font in each case, suggesting apartial immersionof theconverts.106Thebaptisteries servedasakindof ritualentrancebuild- 97 Rothaus 2000, 96. 98 Pallas 1990, 793. 99 Pallas 1990, 766. Brandt 2011, 1590, points to the growing popularity of baths and nymphaea in the 3rd and 4thcenturies. 100 Caraher 2014, 150. 101 Pallas 1990, 776f. 102 Pallas 1990, 777; Ristow1998, 156no.250. 103 Pallas 1990, 780–786;Ristow1998, 155no.248. 104 Pallas 1990, 785. 105 Pallas 1990, 785. 106 Sanders 2005, 441, assumes total immersion; thedepthof thebasins rather hints to apartial immersion and affusion.