Hellenistic and Roman Villa and Paleochristian Basilica
(Pithagório, Samos)
Hellenistic and Roman Villa

These ruins of Hellenistic and Roman villa is situated on the western hill of Pithagorio, near the church of Metamorphosis and the castle of Logothetis. The villa was first constructed in the second century BCE, and renovated during the imperial period.

Hellenistic and Roman Villa

Hellenistic and Roman Villa
The white building in the photo just above is the Church of Metamorphosis.
The remains of the villa is not much, only the foundations and some columns. Some of the features remind us how gorgeous was it. See for example two redish columns with marble pattern; this kind of material must have been imported from elsewhere, and accordingly was expensive.


Early Christian Basilica
In late antiquity (fifth century), one part of the villa was converted in to Christiann basilica and a small chapel, as you see in this photo.

The photo below shows a relief with Christian symbols. At the centre is the Chi-Rho sign (a kind of cross made of two Greek alphabets, x (chi) and r (rho), initials of Jesus Christ), and in the same circle, alpha and omega, representing the begenning and the end, and on two sides there are two doves.
Early Christian Sculpture

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