Baptistery of Bekalta
| Baptistery of Bekalta | |
|---|---|
Bekalta Baptistery with its rich mosaic decoration. | |
| Type | Baptistery |
| Material | Mosaic |
| Period/culture | 6th–7th centuries |
| Discovered | Spring 1993 El Gaalla |
| Culture | Early Christianity |
The Baptistery of Bekalta, also known as the Baptistery of El Gaalla, is an early Christian baptismal basin decorated with mosaics and noted for its state of preservation. It was discovered at the end of the 20th century near Bekalta, within the delegation of the same name in the governorate of Monastir Governorate, Tunisia.
The discovery occurred accidentally during land-leveling operations associated with a quarry that occupied the site of the archaeological remains. The quarrying activity damaged the structures of the religious complex to which the baptismal basin belonged. Accounts differ regarding the initial condition of the site before this disturbance; in any case, the complex could not be subjected to a comprehensive archaeological study.
The baptistery is now one of the principal works in the early Christian department of the archaeological museum of Sousse. Baptismal basins decorated with mosaics are considered rare among known archaeological remains. Its polylobed form, unusual in the context of religious architecture, is regarded as a distinctive feature.