DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0108
76
MONUMENTS OF CLASSIC STYLE
true, and the cutting is quite shallow. Above the moldings is an ornate frieze or
band of a running foliate pattern, interspersed with star-like flowers; above this runs
a loosely executed dentil molding. At either end of the
lintel, at this level, is a large upright ancon, ornamented
with the acanthus, which, like nrany of the consoles in
the great Ba‘albek edifices, is wholly without construc-
tional purpose. The upper portion of the lintel consists
of a Corinthian cornice, the brackets of which are molded
with egg-and-dart carving, above which appears a co-
rona, ornamented with a shell pattern, then a bead-and-
reel molding and a cymatium richly adorned with an-
themions, after the manner of the cornice of the Temple
of Venus at Ba'albek. The composition is rich and
effective from a distance, but a nearer view reveals its
deficiencies.
Isriyeh. temple. Four days’ journey east of Apa-
mea and three days north of Palmyra, but still in what
may be generally termed Northern Syria, in the midst of
the desert, stands a single building which marks the site of Isriyeh, the ancient
Seriane. There are wells here
which bring great numbers of
Bedawin with their flocks and
their herds of camels each day to
the spot; but there are few ruins
of buildings other than those of
the Roman temple. It stands
upon an eminence well above the
leveled and buried ruins of the
ancient city, and though, to reach
it from the western mountains,
one must pass over the great
black-stone belt, it is in the midst
of a limestone region, and is of
the purest white. Its plan (Fig.
28) is most simple. It seems to
have been of the prostyle type,
but only its cella has been
spared. The east wall of the cella is almost wholly occupied by a broad, high, and
richly ornamented portal, above which is a broad relieving-arch. On either side,
East fa^ade of temple at Isriyeh.
MONUMENTS OF CLASSIC STYLE
true, and the cutting is quite shallow. Above the moldings is an ornate frieze or
band of a running foliate pattern, interspersed with star-like flowers; above this runs
a loosely executed dentil molding. At either end of the
lintel, at this level, is a large upright ancon, ornamented
with the acanthus, which, like nrany of the consoles in
the great Ba‘albek edifices, is wholly without construc-
tional purpose. The upper portion of the lintel consists
of a Corinthian cornice, the brackets of which are molded
with egg-and-dart carving, above which appears a co-
rona, ornamented with a shell pattern, then a bead-and-
reel molding and a cymatium richly adorned with an-
themions, after the manner of the cornice of the Temple
of Venus at Ba'albek. The composition is rich and
effective from a distance, but a nearer view reveals its
deficiencies.
Isriyeh. temple. Four days’ journey east of Apa-
mea and three days north of Palmyra, but still in what
may be generally termed Northern Syria, in the midst of
the desert, stands a single building which marks the site of Isriyeh, the ancient
Seriane. There are wells here
which bring great numbers of
Bedawin with their flocks and
their herds of camels each day to
the spot; but there are few ruins
of buildings other than those of
the Roman temple. It stands
upon an eminence well above the
leveled and buried ruins of the
ancient city, and though, to reach
it from the western mountains,
one must pass over the great
black-stone belt, it is in the midst
of a limestone region, and is of
the purest white. Its plan (Fig.
28) is most simple. It seems to
have been of the prostyle type,
but only its cella has been
spared. The east wall of the cella is almost wholly occupied by a broad, high, and
richly ornamented portal, above which is a broad relieving-arch. On either side,
East fa^ade of temple at Isriyeh.