Butler Diary: Northern and Central Syria I, 1899

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Bānaḳfûr

The columns which were found were smoothly cut in a better class of stone from the ordinary building stone and the capitals are of excellent subclassic Corinthian order.

The structure has little resemblance to the churches of the region and is far more likely to have been a court of law.

Its crypt was not a cistern, nor had it ever served as a place of burial but might easily have been either a prison or a treasury.

Southeast from this edifice, toward the centre of the town stands the ruin of a large private residence (42 x 18ft.) with a well-preserved colonnade of 5 sub-classic Doric columns which originally supported a second colonnade upon which 2 doorways opened from the upper story. The interior was divided into two unequal compartments on the

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
BSY_FB_05_p.54
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Bānaḳfûr

lower story. The upper story ^ had a ^ wooden floor which has completely disappeared leaving traces only in the sockets cut in the walls for its beams.

To the west of this house ^ and adjoining it ^ a colonnade of rectangular col's with moulded caps and architrave runs out for about fifty feet. The structure back of this portico is completely demolished.

Church. South of this house, on lower ground are the dilapidated ruins of the church. The body of this building measures about 30 X 45ft. Correct dimensions impossible. At the east was a semicircular apse. The nave was divided into three aisles by colonnades of three columns each. Three monolithic columns were found and six subclassic capitals ⁺ of considerable richness. The church seems to have been of an early type in which arcades were used instead of arcades ? No-

+ see sketches.

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
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Bānaḳfûr

At the Western edge of the town is a large rock cut chamber covered by a broad barrel vault of stone, springing from the solid sides of the excavated chamber. The chamber measures 22 x 15ft. The vault stands perfectly preserved and entirely without buttresses, so perfectly fitted, without mortar, that earthquake has made no rupture.

South of the town, on an eminence, facing the town are a number of rock cut tombs. Two of them have ornamental facades, one, two engaged fluted Ionic columns supporting a triangular pediment.+ Within are curved arcosolia and rockcut sarcophagi - There is usually an outer and inner chamber, there being two arcosolia in the front chamber, at right angles to the facade, one on either side of the entrance.

+ see photo P.

Last edit 5 months ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
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