Apollonia, western basilica

Apollonia: city in the Cyrenaica, port of Cyrene.

The Western Basilica is the smallest of the three churches of Apollonia; still, it has three aisles, although the columns are of different sizes and shapes. It is remarkable, because it has its apse in the west; the reason may be that in this way, one wall of the church could be supported by the city wall. The sixth-century mosaics were made from natural stone that was found elsewhere in the city.