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Heraklea Lynkestis:
town from the Hellenistic period and early middle ages.
 Founded
in the middle of the 4th century BC, by
Philip
II of Macedonia, father of the biggest Macedonian Emperor
Alexander
The Great, as important strategical town. At the middle of the 2nd
century BC, the Romans conquered Macedonia and destroyed it's political power
and then divided in 4 regions. And by this terrible condition, Heraklea which
was in the fourth region, has got a high prosperity rating. Heraklea owns that
with the establishment of the main Balkan road Via Egnatia on which
Heraklea was important stop. Discovered objects from the Roman time in Heraklea
are: Votive monuments, thermi (baths), theatre and identified, town walls. In
the early Christian period Heraklea was important episcopical seat. Some of it's
episcopes are mentioned in church meetings in Serdika, Evgarius, in Effes
Quintilius and Beagnus in Carigrad. From this period are the ensembles of the
small and big basilica. The grave basilica with necropolis are located eastern
of the theatre.
Votive monuments: that
is porch, which roof lies on a wall and colonnades. On the wall are discovered
several writings. In the western part is written: To the god Nemeza (monument
establisher) Julija Tertila. On the second is written: the city of Heraklea
Lynkestis establishes a monument of Titus Flavius Orestus (on the picture). On
the third place in written: To the god of the Justice.
Thermi: Eastern of the
ensemble of the small basilica is discovered the western side of the thermi
(baths), divided on: 1.place with cold water (frigidarium); 2.place with a mix
of cold and hot water (tepidarium); 3.place with hot water (caldarium) and 4.
three fire places (praefurnium). The entrance has still not been discovered but
it's believed that is on the eastern side. Dating period not known, around
III or IV century.
"Mosaics in the Basilicas"
Theatre: built by the
Roman types of theatres. It is an urban building located in the central part of
the town, which shows representative and practical ideas of the Roman theatre
architecture. This theatre is built in time when in Macedonia and Greece the old
theatres are modernizing, in the time of the Roman emperor Hadrian. And given in
use in the time of Antonius Pius. The theatre is located on a hill, with
southern exposition. The first material prove of existing of the theatre was
bone ticket for a seat in the 14th row (ID DIIII), founded in 1931.
Second prove are seats built secondary in the big basilica, founded in
1936-1938. The theatre has been discovered in 1968. It has 20 rows seats. The
wall that separates the orchestra from the scene is 2.10 meters high. On this
wall have been discovered 3 cages for animals and in the western part a tunnel.
The theatre is left for use in the period of changes on the king Honorius, when
the bloody gladiator fights have been stopped. So on the place of long time
closed theatre in the first half of the 6th century have been built
several Slavic houses.
"Mosaics in the Basilicas"
Small Basilica
(Basilica A): This building is discovered in the researches made before the
second world war in 1936-1938 and in the beginning is identified as late ancient
palace, but in the final researches in 1960-1964, it has been found out that it
is a old Christian basilica. There is a decorated floor mosaic made by the
technique "opus sectile". There have been discovered several rooms.
The first has been used as baptistery service and the second on west has floor
mosaic made by the technique "opus tessalatum". After creation of the
complex Big Basilica, the function of these rooms has been changed. By
discovering of the walls, architectonic plastic and floors, are reconstructed.
  Big
Basilica (Basilica C): it is a building with monumental size, with rooms:
1.open porch so colonnades;
2.egzonarteks;
3.narteks;
4.two north annexes;
5.three south annexes;
The floors of these
rooms have a mosaics made with wonderful quality, made in technique "opus
tessalatum" with geometrical and floral motive. The mosaic in the narthex
is old Christian art, a big composition and size about 100 square meters. There
are birds, trees, bushes, red dog (symbol of paradise) and animals beasts as a
domain of the earth. This mosaic is dating from the end of the 6th century. The
basilica C is built on older basilica B. The basilica C has been in use in the
period of 4th to 6th century.
 Basilica
D: It is located in the eastern part of Heraklea. It has been built under ruins
from the late ancient period, in the first half of V century. Floors are made
different. Some of them have mosaics, some with stone blocks and bricks. Near
this basilica have been discovered old Christian and Slavic graves. The basilica
is dating from the first half of 6th century.
The Episcopacy
Residence: archeological researches have been made in period of 1970-1975. First
was discovered the western part and the southern side is near the town wall. The
luxury rooms are located in the eastern part. The rooms 2,3 and 4 have mosaic
floors. Between the rooms 3 and 4 there was a hole that leaded to the eastern
entrance of the residence. This object has been in use in the period of 4th
to 6th century.
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