DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0251
CHURCHES
219
from the remains, was confined to the portals; that in the south wall had deeply
molded jambs and a door-cap carved with erect acanthus leaves.
Djebel RihA. The remains of ecclesiastical architecture of the sixth century are
rare in the Djebel Riha. There are but three basilical structures which, by their form
and by the character of their ornament, may be assigned to this period — the great
basilica near Hass, the “ Bizzos Church ” at Ruweha, which will be described later,
and a small church which forms a part of the group of buildings about the great
church at il-Barah.
Il-Barah. church. 1 A plan of this building is given in M. de Vogiie’s plate,
in connection with that of the group of religious buildings about the great church. It
stands to the northeast of the larger building, its front wall being on a line with the
rear wall of the other, and it is 7.60 m. from the northeastern angle of the baptistery
which adjoins the old church. Its plan is nearly square; it has three entrances at
the west; its central nave, 6 m. wide, terminates in a semicircular apse with three win-
dows. The side chambers are arranged on either side of the apse according to the
plan of the churches of Bankusa and Termanm, i.e., the curve of the apse is permitted
to show between the chambers. Only portions of the apse and the west front are
standing. The fa$ade preserves the only remnants of ornament. These consist of
the deep moldings of the portals and those of the broad relieving-arches above them.
Hass. basilica. 2 The basilica at Hass was one of the largest in the whole region ;
but of the original structure only the diaconicum, which was carried up in a tower of
four stories, and the wall of the south aisle are preserved,
the rest having been broken up and carried away for build-
ing material. It presents interesting departures from the
accepted rules of the country in matters of plan, propor-
tion, and general treatment. The plan is basilical, but the
chambers which flank the sanctuary extend to a third of
their width beyond the walls of the aisles, and were
carried up in towers two stories above the roofs of the
aisles. The sanctuary, as it seems to have stood at the
time of its abandonment, was rectangular, though the
foundations of a semicircular apse are still to be found
within the quadrangle. The floor level of the apse must
have been raised above that of the nave ; for, of the four
stories of the tower, one is 2 m. below the level of the nave,
and one 1.75 m. above that level. The lowest story of
the tower was connected with the basement of the apse by
1 La Syrie Centrale, Pl. 60. 2 La Syrie Centrale, Pls. 65, 66.
219
from the remains, was confined to the portals; that in the south wall had deeply
molded jambs and a door-cap carved with erect acanthus leaves.
Djebel RihA. The remains of ecclesiastical architecture of the sixth century are
rare in the Djebel Riha. There are but three basilical structures which, by their form
and by the character of their ornament, may be assigned to this period — the great
basilica near Hass, the “ Bizzos Church ” at Ruweha, which will be described later,
and a small church which forms a part of the group of buildings about the great
church at il-Barah.
Il-Barah. church. 1 A plan of this building is given in M. de Vogiie’s plate,
in connection with that of the group of religious buildings about the great church. It
stands to the northeast of the larger building, its front wall being on a line with the
rear wall of the other, and it is 7.60 m. from the northeastern angle of the baptistery
which adjoins the old church. Its plan is nearly square; it has three entrances at
the west; its central nave, 6 m. wide, terminates in a semicircular apse with three win-
dows. The side chambers are arranged on either side of the apse according to the
plan of the churches of Bankusa and Termanm, i.e., the curve of the apse is permitted
to show between the chambers. Only portions of the apse and the west front are
standing. The fa$ade preserves the only remnants of ornament. These consist of
the deep moldings of the portals and those of the broad relieving-arches above them.
Hass. basilica. 2 The basilica at Hass was one of the largest in the whole region ;
but of the original structure only the diaconicum, which was carried up in a tower of
four stories, and the wall of the south aisle are preserved,
the rest having been broken up and carried away for build-
ing material. It presents interesting departures from the
accepted rules of the country in matters of plan, propor-
tion, and general treatment. The plan is basilical, but the
chambers which flank the sanctuary extend to a third of
their width beyond the walls of the aisles, and were
carried up in towers two stories above the roofs of the
aisles. The sanctuary, as it seems to have stood at the
time of its abandonment, was rectangular, though the
foundations of a semicircular apse are still to be found
within the quadrangle. The floor level of the apse must
have been raised above that of the nave ; for, of the four
stories of the tower, one is 2 m. below the level of the nave,
and one 1.75 m. above that level. The lowest story of
the tower was connected with the basement of the apse by
1 La Syrie Centrale, Pl. 60. 2 La Syrie Centrale, Pls. 65, 66.