Idanha Velha / Idanha-a-Velha / Idenha-a-Velha / Egitania

Described and illustrated in Palol (1967) as a sunken baptismal font of a rectangular plant with rounded arm ends; at each of the arms there are two steps leading down; at opposite ends of the long sides it has two semicircular basins separated from the main well by marble plates; if these side wells were taken into consideration as integral to the font, it would be considered tetra-lobed or cruciform; as usual it is suggested that the smaller basins may have been destined for the baptism of children or other -unknown- liturgical purposes. Described in Fontain (1973-1977) as one of the most beautiful baptismal piscina of the the Iberian peninsula, and relates parallel fonts at Torre de Palma, only 88 km to the south, as well as the ones in Sidé (Pamphylia, present-day Turkey) and Iunca (Tunisia). A quadrangular sunken baptismal font of the Visigothic period provided with steps at opposite ends. Similar to others at Vega del Mar, Aljezares, etc. [source: www.anthropos.galeon.com]