Thessaloniki No. 3 / Salonika / Thessalonika / Thessalonica / Άγιος Δημήτριος / Aghios Demetrios / Agios Demetrios / Agios Dimitrios / Hagios Dmetrios

The second baptism-related (?) artifact in this church [cf. Index entry for THessaloniki No. 2 for a possible early-Christian baptistery in St. Demetrius] is a fountain-like object described in our source as a "large stone baptismal font [phiale] that is located in the courtyard just to the west of the church of Saint Demetrius" [source: http://holylandphotos.org]. The large object consists of a roughly hemispheric basin decorated with a band of round motif at the upper basin, and a concave rib pattern all around the rest of the outer surface; it is raised on four parapet-like legs with a solid central core or shaft, all of it mounted on a circular plinth of modern appearance.