Early-Christian Baptisteries of Provence

Abstract

The paper focuses on early-Christian baptisteries. They were built in Provence in the period from the fourth to mid-eighth centuries. The author has presented them in a catalogue in which she placed basic information about each of the building. The information was taken from the sources and findings of archeological research. The text accompanying the catalogue is an attempt to classify the baptisteries on the basis of an analysis of their plans. The author concludes as follows: 1) the plans of urban and rural baptisteries are varied, 2) there are essential differences between the baptisteries of south Provence and those which were erected in the northern territories invaded in the fifth century by Burgundies.