Cities and Their Churches

This chapter is about the churches in the cities of the region. In the introduction to the chapter, some common features of these cities are pointed out. The cities of Nisibis, Edessa, Amida, Dara, Constantia, and Martyropolis are dealt with under separate headings, while Batnae and Carrhae, for which we do not have much evidence, are discussed in the introduction to the chapter. Not much church architecture has remained in the cities. Yet, what has survived and what has been recorded in the past lets us see a wide variety of plan types (basilicas, variations of domed basilicas, an aisled-tetraconch, and an octagon), a distinctive architectural sculpture that is mostly classical in character, and strong imperial patronage. After each city, the churches and monasteries in the hinterland of these cities are discussed. Some rural areas, such as the Tektek Mountains, the region around Derik, and Kale-i Zerzevan near Amida, stand out for their surviving remains.