Developments in Ceramic Materials Research

The Use of Ceramic Pots in Old Worship Places 153
3.6. Architectural types of Greek orthodox churches with pots
In Greek Ecclesiastical architecture, the existence of a great number of architectural types
of churches with vases has been confirmed. The different architectural types found, depend
on the geographical region (e.g. Islands – Peloponnesus – Mainland Greece). The location of
the pots according to the architectural type of church is listed below:
a.1. Cross-shaped churches (inscribed in general). Vases are found as a rule on the crests
or the bucklers of crests of corner spaces. They are also found on sidewalls and occasionally
on the panel of domes.
a.2. Single aisled Basilicas. As a rule, the vases are situated on the long sides close or
above the bases of the covering dome and occasionally in the dome. On wooden-roofed or
flat-roofed basilicas, the vases are situated high on various linear locations.
a.3. Triple Dome Basilicas- Vases found in various positions, in perimeter walls, or in the
partitions of the sanctuary, and on the crests of the dome.
a.4. Cross-shaped churches inscribed after the folded transverse antennas of the cross.
The vases are mainly found on the crests of the central dome and close to or along the base of
the antennas facing the east or the west. They are also situated on the panels of the North and
South parts.
a.5. Triple- aisle alcove churches in general- The vases are mainly situated on the crests
of the central dome, or even on the secondary walls – if any exist – and occasionally on the
lateral walls, or on the cylindrical surfaces of the cylindrical niches, or near the bases of the
cylindrical domes.
a.6. Cross-shaped dome churches- The vases that were observed were on the long sides
and on the walls, on which the transverse chamber is based. Occasionally there are vases on
the wall or on the dome of the sanctuary.
Figure 11. Vases in church of Penteli Attica. The letters denote the position of pots.