E01823: One of the panels of the Yakto mosaic shows 'the workshops of the martyr shrine (martyrion)', possibly that of *Babylas (bishop and martyr in Antioch, S00061). Found at Yakto near Antioch-on-the-Orontes (north Syria). Second half of the 5th c.

This famous mosaic was found by Claude Prost, Curator of the then Museum of Antioch, in November 1932 during the work of the Committee for the Excavation of Antioch and its Vicinity, in Yakto, 2 km to the north of Daphne, the suburbs of Antioch-on-the-Orontes, at the site of a fifth-century villa. W. c. 8.50 m; L. c. 7 m.

Its existence was first reported by Jean Lassus in 1933 and a publication followed in 1934. Since then, the mosaic has been often republished and discussed anew, because of its great importance for the study of the topography and architecture of late antique Antioch. Now in the Hatay Archaeological Museum.

The composition of the mosaic is divided into three main sections: the central medallion shows a female figure holding roses, being an allegory of Megalopsychia/'Magnanimity'. It is surrounded by depictions of four combats with animals. The last section, the most important for us, is the border showing street scenes within the city of Antioch and Daphne, backed by buildings (e.g. the Olympic Stadium at Daphne, the octagonal church/domus aurea, the city gate, and the bridge over the Orontes) and people working and enjoying their time among them.

Among the day-to-day life scenes one, situated in the southern border, one shows a long building with one big doorway and one small window. The building is between the Olympic Stadium (τὸ Ὀλυμπιακόν), which suggests that it was located in Daphne, and a building named ὁ περίπατος/'the meeting place'. In front of our building there are two people, apparently named Chalkomas and Markellos. The latter is wearing a crown and lying on cushions next to a cup and an amphora. The other, probably his servant, is passing him an amphora. A dog and three more figures: a man, a woman, and possibly an adolescent, are shown to the right of the building, talking.

The building is labelled:

τὰ ἐργαστήρια τοῦ μαρτυρίου

'The workshops of the martyr shrine (martyrion)'

Text: IGLS 3/2, no. 998.