Princeton Expeditions to Syria (1899, 1904-1905, 1909)

Pages That Mention Ma'sarti

Butler Diary: Northern and Central Syria I, 1899

BSY_FB_05_Index
Page Status Indexed

BSY_FB_05_Index

District No. I p. 6. Benâbil p. 11. Barrîsh p. 16. Ḳirḳ Bêzā p. 20. Kfêr p. 25. Beḥyō p. 29. Kefr Kîla p. 31. Kalb Lauzi p. 36. Barrîsh (Kefr Kîla) p. 37. Beshindelâya p. 44. Beshindelinti p. 45. Ma'ṣarti

District No. II p. 50 Banaḳfûr p. 56 Bāmuḳḳā p. 61 Bāshakûḥ p. 65 Silfâyā p. 68 Khirbet el-Khaṭîb p. 69 Khirbet Tēzîn p. 70 Ḳaṣr Iblîsū p. 72 Bashmishli [continued in Part II]

Types of Church Plans illustrations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Churches. Plan Supports
Benâbil No. 2 0
Kfêr 2 0
Beḥyō 4 6 cols?
Kefr Kîla ? ?
Ḳalb Lauzi 6 4 piers
Barrish (K.K.) 1 0
Banaḳfûr No. 3 6 cols.
Bāmuḳḳā 3 cols.
Khirbat el-Khaṭîb 3 ?
Khirbet Tĕzîn 3 6 cols
Ḳaṣr Iblîsū 1 0
Bashmishli 3 4 piers
Basilicas Bêḥyō Banaḳfûr
Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
BSY_FB_05_p.42
Page Status Indexed

BSY_FB_05_p.42

42

Ḳaṣr el-Gharbî October 30, 1899

To the west from Ma'sarti, a town which we visited on the 31st and which will be described on the following pages, lie three detached ruins which we visited returning from Beshindelâya via Ma'sarti. Of these, Ḳaṣr il-Gharbī is the most important - This was a huge mortuary chamber built entirely above ground, in two stories, and surrounded by colonnades of megalithic piers.

The chamber measures 15ft. 9in. x 24ft inside - Its walls are 3ft. 5in. thick, it is entered on one side and one end by arched doorways. The walls on the interior are occupied by arcosolia and their sarcophagi, on either side of each doorway, three in the east wall and two on the south - nine in all. ^ Over each tomb a † formation ^

Between the tombs are niches for water or ornaments. The second story had small windows and a door opening out upon the roof of the colonnades.

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
BSY_FB_05_p.43
Page Status Indexed

BSY_FB_05_p.43

43

Ḳaṣr el-Gharbî

South west of the mortuary chapel perhaps an 1/8 of a mile stands a ruined tower with several demolished structures connected with it. From its position on the very confines of the mountain range in this district (i.e., to the west) and from the massiveness of its construction, this seems to have been a watch tower and a sort of military outpost. It commands a sweeping view of the great plain about the lake of Antioch and the approaches to the Jebel el A'la

Northeast of the mortuary chamber and between it and Ma'sarti stands a second tower very similar to the first in construction and similarly placed, at the edge of the ridge. It may be that a line of such redoubts was constructed along the N. and W. confines of the ''Jebel.

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
BSY_FB_05_p.44
Page Status Indexed

BSY_FB_05_p.44

44

Beshindelinti October 31, 1899

On the way to Ma'sarti we ^ G & B ^ visited this small ruined town now occupied by a few Druses There are here remains of two important buildings and a confused mass of less extensive structures. That at the S.E. portion of the ruins preserved a colonnaded portico + or atrium within the front (east) wall. At the south end of the portico is a square chamber, at the other end a long vaulted chamber at [...] to the colonnade. Adjoining this to the north another room with a gable toward the east. Small traces of walls running west can be found but not sufficient to give a further plan.

The colonnade consists of three columns, 2 pilasters and a cornice above an architrave. The columns have plain monolithic shafts ^ with ^ one debased Ionic and two debased Corin. (sic-corinthian). capitals. + The caps of the pilasters are of the simplest moulded style.

(+) see photo

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
BSY_FB_05_p.45
Page Status Indexed

BSY_FB_05_p.45

45

Ma'sarti October 31, 1899

Having passed through the town on the 30th we returned the following day to examine the ruins more carefully. The remains of the ancient town cover a large area and a superficial glance suggested greater things than one second visit discovered. At the S.W. end of the ruins is a small wretched Mohammedan village. The houses of the town were generally more detached and scattered than in the majority of these places. In this the ruins of Ma'sarti are none like Beshindelâyā. The megalithic style prevails. A few ornamental doorways are the only striking architectural remains.

One much ruined building near the eastern limits of the town presents a few interesting features. It is a small square structure, with walls of unusual thickness, with a semicircular apse

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
Displaying pages 1 - 5 of 6 in total