DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0253
CHURCHES
22 I
The wall of the south aisle is high, and, with the tower, shows that this basilica was
decorated with molded string-courses. These are used at the sill levels of the windows,
and the doorways were richly adorned with moldings. The windows are kirge and
stand close together; they have semicircular tops without moldings. The one pre-
served portal has monolithic jambs with heavy moldings, a deep cornice, and a molded
discharging-arch, which, by the way, is not an arch, but a semicircle cut in a single
stone. There is nothing about this basilica to mark it as a Christian edifice, yet the
name given it by the natives—■ Kasr il-Benat — would seem to connect it with a con-
vent in ancient times. M. de Vogtie places this edifice among the earlier Christian
buildings of the region, assigning it to the fourth century; but I cannot discover any
grounds for this assumption. It has no details that would class it with dated buildings
of the fourth century, while, on the other hand, its molded string-courses, its grooved
pilasters, and the size and shape of its windows are entirely in keeping with similar
details of buildings which are known to belong to the sixth century.
(3) We have 110w to consider the churches of basilical plan in which rectangular piers
and broad arches are substituted for columns supporting arches of narrow span. Two
of these were published by M. de Vogtie : that of Kalb Lauzeh, in the northern district,
and that of Ruweha, 1 in the Djebel Riha. Both are plainly sixth-century edifices, if
we judge them by their details, yet they differ from one another in plan and system.
Kalb Lauzeh. church. 2 The great church of Iyalb Lauzeh, so well published by
M. de Vogiie, is introduced here only as the chef d’oeuvreof the architectural produc-
tions of the closely allied districts of the Djebel il-A‘la and the
Djebel Barisha, and the foremost type of the basilica without
columns. It illustrates, moreover, the employment of stone in
the roofs of side aisles, a form of construction rare enough in
churches, although very common in civil and domestic archi-
tecture. The body of the church measures about 25 m. by 15 m.
inside, or approximately 68 by 40 feet of the ancient measure,
showing that the common ratio of proportion was sometimes
ignored in churches of this type, although when the distance is
taken from the west wall to the steps of the chancel, we have 60
feet, which gives the common ratio of 3:2. The central nave
terminates in a broacl apse which protrudes beyond the east
wall. The three great arches of the nave arcades do not abut
the opening of the apse, but are stopped about six meters short
of it, the intervening space on both sides being occupied by
walls which inclose side chambers at the ends of the aisles.
Fig. 89. Plan of church at
Kalb Lauzeh. 3
1 La Syrie Centrale, Pls. 68, 69.
3 La Syrie Centrale, Pls. 122-129.
'Frora La Syrie Centrale, Pl. 125
22 I
The wall of the south aisle is high, and, with the tower, shows that this basilica was
decorated with molded string-courses. These are used at the sill levels of the windows,
and the doorways were richly adorned with moldings. The windows are kirge and
stand close together; they have semicircular tops without moldings. The one pre-
served portal has monolithic jambs with heavy moldings, a deep cornice, and a molded
discharging-arch, which, by the way, is not an arch, but a semicircle cut in a single
stone. There is nothing about this basilica to mark it as a Christian edifice, yet the
name given it by the natives—■ Kasr il-Benat — would seem to connect it with a con-
vent in ancient times. M. de Vogtie places this edifice among the earlier Christian
buildings of the region, assigning it to the fourth century; but I cannot discover any
grounds for this assumption. It has no details that would class it with dated buildings
of the fourth century, while, on the other hand, its molded string-courses, its grooved
pilasters, and the size and shape of its windows are entirely in keeping with similar
details of buildings which are known to belong to the sixth century.
(3) We have 110w to consider the churches of basilical plan in which rectangular piers
and broad arches are substituted for columns supporting arches of narrow span. Two
of these were published by M. de Vogtie : that of Kalb Lauzeh, in the northern district,
and that of Ruweha, 1 in the Djebel Riha. Both are plainly sixth-century edifices, if
we judge them by their details, yet they differ from one another in plan and system.
Kalb Lauzeh. church. 2 The great church of Iyalb Lauzeh, so well published by
M. de Vogiie, is introduced here only as the chef d’oeuvreof the architectural produc-
tions of the closely allied districts of the Djebel il-A‘la and the
Djebel Barisha, and the foremost type of the basilica without
columns. It illustrates, moreover, the employment of stone in
the roofs of side aisles, a form of construction rare enough in
churches, although very common in civil and domestic archi-
tecture. The body of the church measures about 25 m. by 15 m.
inside, or approximately 68 by 40 feet of the ancient measure,
showing that the common ratio of proportion was sometimes
ignored in churches of this type, although when the distance is
taken from the west wall to the steps of the chancel, we have 60
feet, which gives the common ratio of 3:2. The central nave
terminates in a broacl apse which protrudes beyond the east
wall. The three great arches of the nave arcades do not abut
the opening of the apse, but are stopped about six meters short
of it, the intervening space on both sides being occupied by
walls which inclose side chambers at the ends of the aisles.
Fig. 89. Plan of church at
Kalb Lauzeh. 3
1 La Syrie Centrale, Pls. 68, 69.
3 La Syrie Centrale, Pls. 122-129.
'Frora La Syrie Centrale, Pl. 125