The National Park of Butrint, in a post on social networks, brings a photo album and information on the baptistery of Butrint, one of the main, most sophisticated monuments of this park and one of the largest in the entire Mediterranean.

The time of its construction is thought to be around 550-570 AD. The mosaic is very beautifully composed. The floor decoration consists of seven bands that circle the baptismal tub in the center, which together make eight, the Christian number that signifies salvation and eternity.

Two of the strips consist of simple interlocking medallions, the others contain washers with four-legged animals, many waterfowl and fish, a total of 69 and all symbols associated with baptism.

Under ideal conditions, the Baptistery complex and its mosaics should always be on display. The seasonal rise and fall of the water level in the surrounding lagoon causes repeated wetting and drying of the floors.

If the mosaics were constantly exposed to air, this process would repeatedly lead to their permanent and irreversible destruction. Thus, to ensure the long-term preservation of the mosaics, the floors of the Baptistery are kept covered. The mosaics are periodically uncovered, generally every 5 years, for short periods, for public viewing and scientific conservation.

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