Observations sur les villes et les villas urbaines de la Grèce pendant l'antiquité tardive

Abstract

Although the urban planning during Late Antiquity had a different course in the prefectures of the Eastern part than in those of the Northern or Western part, the principles in the organization of the city space remained the same until the end of the 5^th century. However, major changes took place in the 6^th century when the church building gained the place of importance in the latter; a telling example of this evolution is the town of Philippi. The urban houses as part of the overall planning of the cityscape, according to the excavation reports, also preserved their roman features as those were inherited. Their size, the layout of the rooms and their possible use, the existence of a court or not, offer concrete evidence which helps classify the houses in relation to the social status of the owner. Nevertheless, the dynamics of the changes that the 6^th century brought about influenced radically the shape and use of the urban houses reflecting in the latter the actual history of the cities during Late Antiquity.