Ilissos Basilica -Βασιλική του Ιλισσού - Μαρτύριο του Λεωνίδη

Basilica, Ilissos
Area: Athens
Type: Basilica
Date: first half of the 5th century

Description:

It is the basilica (nowadays, in ruins) that was built on an Ilissos islet, in the east of the Olympeion, where nowadays is situated Fokianou swimming pool. It resembles (but it has smaller dimensions) Lechaion basilica dedicated to Hagios Leonidios and the seven women who martyred with the saint. According to the saint’s mass book, their relics had been washed ashore by the sea to the western harbour in Korinthos, where they were buried. In all probability, the location choice (islet, river) wanted to refer to water due to the afore-mentioned incident. The basilica was dedicated to the same saint and the seven women martyrs.

It is three-aisled with a transept, a narthex and an atrium.

The martyrioum of Hagios Leonidios, bishop of Athens, lies in the northern wall. It is a 4th century building anterior to the basilica, which is dated to the first half of the 5th century based on the floor mosaics.

Panselinou N., Byzantine Athens, Athens 2004, p.39.

http://www.eie.gr/byzantineattica/view.asp?cgpk=490&lg=en&obpk=510&xsl=detail