Tetrakonho is a marble Christian church, named so because it has four niches, as seen in its extant foundation.
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This is an uncharacteristic name for a Christian church. It seems that at first it was used as an administrative building and was later converted into a christian church, named so because it has four niches, as seen in its extant remains of its foundation. In the span of several centuries, it was replaced, first into a three-aisle basilica (Holy Virgin) and later into an one-aisle basilica. Apart from the top view of the Tetrakonho, the inner colonnade of the subsequent basilica and sections of the elaborate mosaics are also visible. Their decoration include a scaly pattern and a tendril with heart-shaped leaves.
It is one of the earliest Christian churches in Athens and was quite possibly a metropolitan church judging from its location. It was also used as a repository for antiquities and was later banked, which resulted in the dome becoming its only visible section. It was subsequently given the name “Sunken Church”. When a fire broke out in the city market located here (1884), the church suffered extensive damage.
Arcaheology of the city of Athens, (d.u.), Τετράκογχος, [Tetrakonhos], ΕΙΕ,
http://www.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/06_DELTIA/file29.aspx
Last visit 15/10/2013
Yohalas T., Kafetzaki Τ., (2013), Αθήνα, Ιχνηλατώντας την πόλη με οδηγό την ιστορία και τη λογοτεχνία [Athens, Tracing the city guided by history and literature], ESTIA Bookstore
The Tetrakoncho is a work of the 5th century AD. More specifically, it was built during the period 402-410 AD. It was converted into a basilica in the 6th century and into an one- aisle in the 12th century.
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