Basilica of St. John and the Gate of Persecution

This church, which houses the tomb of St. John, has a cross-shaped plan and is notable for its six great domes. It was built by Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. The monograms of the imperial couple appear on some of the column capitals in the central nave. The Gate of Persecution, at the entrance to the church, is part of the Byzantine-era fortification walls and bears various relief friezes. The friezes actually depict scenes from the Trojan War and the life of Achilles, but they were long believed to show the persecution of Christians, which is how the gate got its name. Although the structure is difficult to date precisely, it is generally dated to the 6th or 7th century AD.