The Triconch Palace

The Triconch Palace was a complex of buildings centred around a central court. The total complex measured about 80 by 25 m. The earliest construction dates from the end of the third century AD. It went out of use during the sixth and seventh centuries, but was inhabited and adapted  in later times (among which the thirteenth century AD).

At the end of the third century AD a Roman town house stood at this location. This house was enlarged and re-arranged multiple times over the following four centuries. Most notably, during the fifth century a triconch trinclinium (a dining hall with three apses) was constructed at the eastern end of the building. Triclinia were typical of Late Antique times. The apses were designed to facilitate the use of the stibadium, a semi-circular dining couch which became popular in Late Antiquity.

During the sixth and seventh centuries parts of the palace were demolished, occupation mostly ceased and burials were inserted into the building. While the site was reoccupied during the thirteenth century AD, no major building activities took place at this location anymore.