The conversion of the Nympheum of the gymnasium into a church

Studies on the Christian topography of Butrint have shown convincingly that from the 6th century onward the Church had control of the public spaces of the city and manipulated the urban landscape, by Christianising the important places in the management of the space. Public places thus are occupied by religious buildings, such as the baths on which the Baptistery of the episcopal complex was built, or the Columbarium near to which a small church was founded. Some holy places in the ancient city were also preserved, transformed and Christianised: a small church occupies the stoà of the Asklepeion; the well of Iunia Rufina was Christianised with a painted decoration; a great Basilica was built on the acropolis where a Temple it has been argued once stood; and the Nympheum of the ‘Gymnasium’ was converted into a church. We will dwell here on the context of the conversion of the latter, presenting first the available information on the building’s transformation and its phases, and secondly focusing on the destiny of the mural mosaic with niches and its effacement. Finally a possible context for the obliteration will be put forward.