Early christianity period baptisteries in Anatolia:Cilicia, Pamphylia, and Lycia examples

In this study, the baptisteries that were built in Anatolia during the Early Christianity Period and that have been dated between the 4th and 6th centuries are researched with examples from Cilicia, Pamphylia, and Lycia. Baptism is a Christianity sacrament and a person must be baptized to become a Christian. This rite has certain rules and correctly practicing these rules is requirement for this ritual. Church fathers and theologians wrote out articles regarding the rite's content in their studies on the early period rite of baptism. Based on these articles, we learn that the rite has minor differences in regional terms. The baptisteries, where the baptism ritual is performed, are built in various layout types. The layouts of Anatolia baptisteries are square, square-shaped rectangle, two-nave, externally square and internally tetraconch, internally and externally triconch, externally square and internally polygonal, complex (three-section), and basilical. These baptisteries can be represented by a single example in the cities, or they can be located in a monastery, centers of pilgrimage, bishopric palace, etc... building groups. The baptismal fonts/pools built in Anatolia are generally cross-shaped. Besides, there are three-leaf clover, four-leaf- clover, circular, and square baptismal fonts/pools. These architectural objects can be monolithically built from marble or stone or they can be walled from brick or stone and sided with marble and stone slabs. Dimensions, step numbers, and ascending - descending directions of baptismal fonts/pools vary. These structures are not built in a certain standard and they, again, have similar facilities regionally. Changes to the rite of baptism resulted in the obsolescence of baptisteries following the 6th century. Performing the rite via aspersion rather than immersion in water led to the performance of the rite of baptism inside the church by means of movable objects. Keywords: Baptism, Liturgy, Anatolia, Baptistery