Butler Notes: Excavation of Sardis Architecture in N. Syria, Central Syria, Hauran, Baalbek, Palmyra

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connects these two about under the line of the eastern colonades and pylons: on the South side under the first portico from the east is a fine vaulted chamber that originally opened out upon the ground level by three openings between heavy pilasters. The openings were closed by the Saracenic builders - This chamber connects with the underground vaulted passage by a diminutive? door raised high above the level of either. The walls are adorned with rich mouldings and elaborately decorated niches. It is not known what purpose this chamber might have served.

There are doubtless other subterranean passages and chambers in the vast substruture of the courts and propylea but in the present state of ruin it is impossible to explore them.

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Temple of Jupiter

This temple, which is much smaller than the temple of the Sun, is situated immediately to the south of the greater monument.

It is itself an enormous building and well preserved. It is in many respects a typical example of the Roman temple in plan and in decorations. It is certainly later than the temple of the Sun and if we assign the other to Antonine, we may safely believe that the historian Malala confused the two and meant to infer that Antonine built the Sun temple; while the Arabic writer may really have been right for he says, "The building of the Temple of Zeus was commenced by Septimius Severus between the years 193 and 211. The coins which this emperor had struck at Ba'albek would also point to the temple having been founded by him. The style of the monument certainly bears out this hypothesis.

Plan of the Temple of Jupiter [illustration]

Black = walls and cols in situ Shading = bases in situ White = parts covered

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The temple is octostyle peripteral with a double row of columns across the portico and 15 columns on each side. The walls of the cella project the length of two intercolumnations and two diameters, forming two antae with one column between each of the antae and the inner row of the columns of the porch. It is not possible to determine whether ? antae had a row of columns between them or whether the two columns in front of the antae were part of a continuous row across the portico forming a third line of columns on the porch.

The temple is usually restored with only 14 columns on a side but as the two westernmost columns are not of equal height and are of different form it is reasonable to suppose that the present corner column was not originally the corner column but that another row was carried across the front, like the other exterior columns and that the lower, fluted columns were all interior support of the porch.

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The temple, like most Roman temples was raised upon a massive base which was finished on three sides with base moulding and cornice and was approach ed on the east by a broad flight of steps. A portion of this base has been excavated on the north side. To the south it is flush with a high wall built up above the stream.

The columns here are 60 feet high and have a diameter of 6 feet. The entablature is high and ornate; between the architrave of the outer columns and the cella wall is a series of large stories forming a roof. These are cut to a low curve on the under side and curved to represent a coffered ceiling.

The eastern portal is one of the most remarkable features of the building. It is one of the largest doorways preserved in classic architecture. The massive architrave was formed of three stones. The