Butler Diary: Northern and Central Syria V, 1900

ReadAboutContentsHelp

Pages

BSY_FB_17-40
Needs Review

BSY_FB_17-40

40

In other portions of the church there are various classic fragments used in construction and in the vicinity I found a number of pieces of bases, capitals, and shafts.

Church. The church itself is an excellent specimen of the style peculiar to the Haurân. It is impossible to explain the complete departure of the Christian builders of the Haurân from the architectural principles of their pagan predecessors. The basilical ground plan seems to be the only feature retained from Roman sources. Columnar architecture was abjured in toto and an elaborate arched system substituted. The arch was of course Roman in origin but these people employed it stripped of all its classic features.

The plan of the church here is in all aspects that of a Roman basilica - a broad central nave, terminating in a curved apse, and two side aisles. There is an entrance at the west end and one in the second bay of the S. aisle. The church was almost devoid of windows except

Last edit 9 months ago by denise22334@gmail.com
BSY_FB_17-41
Needs Review

BSY_FB_17-41

41

in the second story of the west facade and in the apse.

The nave is divided from the side aisles by heavy piers which support broad transverse arches across the nave and two stories of arches over the aisles which bring the tops of the upper story to the level of the main arches. The upper story constituted a triforium for a floor of stone was laid longitudinally from one of the lower arches to the next, but it was impossible to see the altar from this position owing to the curve of the main arches. Upon this series of transverse arches a flat roof of heavy stone beams was laid. This was doubtless covered with earth and firmed down as in the houses of the present day for the slabs were not closely fitted nor carefully finished.

In fact the whole construction is rough only the piers and the archivolts being of cut stone. The spandrals were filled up with small irregular stones and we hearde (sic-heard) were consealed by a coat of plaster.

Last edit 8 months ago by denise22334@gmail.com
BSY_FB_17-42
Incomplete

BSY_FB_17-42

42

The sole decoration of the interior consists of discs - a cross within a wreath - on the inner face of the piers. On the exterior the construction is even more crude - cut stone being employed only for lintels and jambs - The walls are of rough irregular stones except in the lower story of the facade where some quadrated blocks from the temple seem to have been employed.

Adjoining the northwest angle of the church is a tower of three stories. This is roughly constructed like the rest of the church and bears little resemblance to deVogüés careful drawing.

Domestic Arch're. The houses are built in the same general style as the church - the rooms of both upper and lower story are arched to recieve the floor or roof and the walls are corbelled out to recieve the roofing slabs. In one house the space bridged in this manner is 3m. 15cm. The slabs measure 2.30 x .30 x 22 and in this case are smoothly cut in lower surface and sides. One houses is provided with an over hanging closet.

This page is incompleteEdit this page
Last edit about 1 month ago by Visual Resources, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University
BSY_FB_17-43
Needs Review

BSY_FB_17-43

43

Shehbā (Philippopolis) May 23-25, 1900

The ruins of Shehbā belong apparently to a single short period. The Emperor Philip seems to have founded this city in or near the place of his birth and to have seen it completed or nearly so during his brief reign.

There can be little doubt that a settlement existed here before Philip's time as inscriptions anterior to that period have been found here, but the little imperial city as we have it must be almost entirely of Philip's creation.

It is totally unlike the ancient cities of Syria, almost perfectly quadrangular well walled and entered through monumental gates - Broad paved streets intersected the city at right angles, these were provided with splendid colonnades. Temples, baths, a theater and great public buildings adorned this imitation of Imperial Rome setup inside the black lava fields of the Ledjā. All are much ruined now but still offer interesting subjects for study.

Last edit 7 months ago by denise22334@gmail.com
BSY_FB_17-43a
Needs Review

BSY_FB_17-43a

Shehbā

South Gate. 536 Meters to Piers plan and elevation, South Gate

Small. South West Gate 360 M from c. of Main S Gate to c. of Small S. Gate plan and elevation of small, South West Gate

Scale 1cm = 1m.

Last edit 7 months ago by denise22334@gmail.com
Displaying pages 56 - 60 of 117 in total