Sabratha. Le trasformazioni dello spazio urbano e lo sviluppo delle aree paleocristiane nelle Regiones III -V: studio preliminare per un GIS archeologico

Researchers at the University of Palermo, in collaboration with the CNR ITABC for the project PRIN 2008, they have made a preliminary study for an archaeological GIS divided into areas I-XI of Sabratha to gather information on the monuments already studied, or under study, and to promote analysis regarding the reuse of space in the Regiones III-V, after the destruction attributed to the earthquake on 21th of July 365. We present the results of the studies on the Roman Baths of the Regio V and on the Episcopal Complex. The roman baths in the Regio V, insula 1 was born in the second century, with the planning of the Theatre District. Stratigraphic excavations conducted under the mosaics had pointed out the pre-existing structures of the Theatre District (period I); by means of the analysis of the surviving structures has been possible to propose a return of the volumes of the bathroom calculated on the Roman foot (29.60 centimeters) and its phases: the project of the second century (period II.1) and the expansion of the third century (period II.2) with the occupation of the south and east streets. It was assumed continuity of use after the earthquake of 365 for the extraordinary state of preservation of the structures with respect to the Baths of Ocean that were completely destroyed and the Baths of the Regio III, which were transformed into the early Christian Episcopal Complex and had determined the funerary use of adjacent spaces (areas VIII, IX and X of the GIS). The Theater District had lost the characteristics which had distinguished it from the second till the fourth centuries. The transformations of the urban spaces, between the last quarter of the fourth and the fifth centuries, was realized through the bishops and the Christian community; the Episcopal complex had the primary role of the catechetical and the baptismal liturgy even in the late-Vandalic and pre-Byzantine periods, but the most prestigious building in the Forum - the ancient Roman Basilica transformed by the Vandals in the Arian church - was converted to the Orthodox creed after the Byzantine conquest and it become the new cathedral. Justinian himself promoted the built of a new church in the Forum square, which is a rare example of Byzantine church for the splendid mosaic with “Tree of Life”. * La ricerca è stata concordata e condivisa con i Colleghi del Dipartimento alle Antichità di Sabratha, cui sono profondamente grata per il sostegno e l’amichevole ospitalità garantiti a tutti i componenti la Missione dell’Università di Palermo. 47