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Agii Assomati

 

Churches in Athens

Agii Assomati
(Saints Assomati)

 


The small church of Saints Asomati dates back to the second half of the 11the century. During the 1960’s it was restored almost to its original state by eliminating the various additions that had been made in the course of the years.

With its characteristic four-columned, domed, cross-in-square form, the church of Assomati is typical for Athenian Byzantine churches of this period. The exterior is of sculpted stone surrounded by bricks. Typical characteristics of the period are the large stones on the lower parts of the side walls placed cross-shaped as well as the brick dentils on the sides of the building.

There are also two ceramic plates with decorations on the western wall. They probably formed part of a larger frieze, similar to the one of the Church of Saint Theodori on Klathmonos Square. These decorative elements imitate the old Arabic writing in which the Koran was first written in the city of Kufa, in present-day Iraq.

Above the northern entrance of the church, there is a horseshoe-shaped arch inspired by Islamic architecture. Islamic influences can actually be traced in various Byzantine artifacts such as textiles, sculptures and small ornaments. These influences come from the trend to imitate oriental decorative elements and they are related to the presence of a small Arab community in the city, mostly merchants and manufactures, towards the end of the 10th century.

Location map Ermou street
Nearest metro staton Thissio
For typical words, please consult our Greek glossary
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  WHAT TO SEE IN ATHENS
  CHURCHES IN ATHENS
  AGII ASSOMATI

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