Bekalta / Békalta / El Gaalla / Thapsus / بقالطة

Noted in Late Ancient Christianity (Minneapolis: Fortres Press, 2010: 140-141), which gives a translation of the full inscription: "Glory to God in the highest, and in earth peace to all people of good will". Noted and illustrated in Patout Burns and Robin M. Jensen's Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2014). The sunken piscina type of font is rectangular outside (220 x 250 cm), while the interior is octafoiled,; the 'foils' alternate between round and square, and resemble a sitting arrangement all around a central well that is square on the outside but round inside, the latter presumably the spot where the catechumen/s would stand to receive baptism; the bottom of this central well is decorated with a mosaic of a large chrismon with the hanging alopha and omega on the horizontal arms of the Greek cross. Remains of a Latin inscription are stil visible on the upper rim. The whole surface of the marble font surface is covered in intricate mosaics -except where missing- contaning a multitude of bired, flowers and other symbols and motifs.