Byzantine Basilica Church

View looking south at the large Byzantine Basilica Church at Laodicea.  The road on the right is a main street that leads from the Syrian Street (the main street of the city) to the North Theater.  The one leading off to the left marks the northern wall of the church.

This church is located in the northeast section of the city.  According to a sign at the site (= excavator's view?), it was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine (d. AD 337).  It was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Focas (r. AD 602-610).

The church complex measures 150 x 125 feet and is bounded on all four sides by streets—thus it takes up one whole insula (city block) of Laodicea.  The orientation of the church is to the southeast with two entrances (one visible in the photo) on the northwest side of the structure.