Butler: Umm idj-Djimal, Nawa, it-Tuba, Wasr ibn-Wardan, 1904-1905

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Umm idj-Djimâl

The complex of buildings between these two churches and stretching to the E. as far as the city wall were apparently only in part church property. All of them are of domestic character, and those immediately adjoining the church buildings and occupying one or more sides of the courts adjoining the churches were probably the residences of the clergy; but it would seem that others, even those feeding upon the cloisters, and especially those with independedant courts, were the private residences of ordinary citizens. The employment of party walls was common in this city, and there are many examples in which party walls are used between houses between which there was no direct communication; and this is one of those cases. The courts too seem to have been divided by a low walls which are now complete ruins. I believe that the buildings adjoining the Church of Masechos on the S. and those on the E. side of the close were clerical residences. There was an entrance to there for the street, just S. of the church and there

[Page 14 Insert A]

Umm idj-Djimâl

[plan, Complex of buildings adjoining the Church of Masechos and the South East Church, Umm idj-Djimâl]

XI [Page 14 Insert B]

Umm idj-Djimâl Church of Masechos

[plan, Complex of buildings adjoining the Church of Masechos and the South East Church, Umm idj-Djimâl]

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was direct communication with the church itself. This provided a large arched apartment and 8 smaller rooms; but the houses on the W. side of the close, with windows upon the street, and with their own arched entrance from the street, I believe were private residences, or one private house, independent of the church. The same may be said of the long row of narrow buildings on the S. side of the same close. In construction, and in details, the house on the W. side of the court is earlier and better (see window tracery).

There was a passage from this close to that of the next church, but I found this sort of communication common between blocks of houses where there were no churches. The group of houses to the East of the close of the S.E. Church was certainly a block of independent private residences having no direct communication with the close, and provided with its own street entrance upon a short street running E. & W. from the N.S. Street to the wall.

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East Church. This church with the buildings about the close to the S. is the best example in the city of a religious establishment pure and simple. The group is built along the E. wall of the city, using the city wall in its own structures. The church is of the same plan as the Julianos Church and Masechos Church having a long undivided nave with transverse arches (5), & a porch of 4 columns. The sanctuary is rectangular, having a small arch. There are chambers flanking the sanctuary. Between the church and the cloister is a row of well built apartments employing the church wall as a party wall. One of these apartments, a spacious arched chamber is entered from the church by a doorway in the 3d bay This room has a large portal and windows in the close. Between it and the city wall there is room for another added room, a little smaller, but equally well finished. West of the large rooms are two rooms of equal size, one opening upon the close, and W. of this 2 small square rooms which form the buildings on the W. side of the closes. Streets E.&W. N.&S. Arched gate in the city wall N. of church.