The Episcopal Palace in Early Byzantium: Historical Development, Architectural Typologies, Domestic Spaces and the Case of Kos

Throughout Late Antiquity, the most important reference model for the residences of the upper classes was provided by imperial palaces, for their typological variety, for the complexity of their functions and especially for the prestige of their role. It is important to examine episcopia keeping in mind this broader context and the concreteness of the archaeological evidence, which shows an increase in the representative spaces. In the fifth and in the sixth century, many episcopia have boundary walls and an ornate façade, internal pathways, reception halls, and residential and service areas. All these features correspond to the bishop’s role and numerous activities. The case of the episcopium of Kos is significant for the urban and monumental transformations of a large ecclesiastical complex between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.