BSY_FB_16-93

93

W. Church. At the west end of the town is another
large church similar in plan to the other
in general lines. The apse again is more
than a circle and the walls of the side chapels
do not form right angles (see plan). The long
nave is divided by two rows of only three
piers, laid up on courses and capped by a
single moulded stone. These piers are nearly
square in plan (about 1m. sq.) and seem
slender to have supported the great arches
which must have been 5m.75 broad and very high.

Two of these piers are still intact.
There were two portals on either side and
three at the west. The lower courses here
are constructed of quadrated blocks and
the upper were doubtless like those of the east
church but have completely disappeared.
It was from this church that (blank) reported
an important bilingual insc. GK. Syriac. Arabic -
which had been on the western portal. This
has now been lost and has doubtless been
carried away to Aleppo (date Zachau 521 A.D.)