DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0404
372
PAGAN ARCHITECTURE IN THE DJEBEL HAURAN
which carried slabs of stone to form a floor for the upper story. The high arches of
this hall sprang from deep pilasters on either side, and these were reinforced on the
outside by buttresses of considerable depth, which are still to be seen on the south
side. The ground rises abruptly on the north of the long hall, and the floor of the
main square chamber, which was laid upon the solid rock, is on the same level with
the artificial floor of the long western hall. This square chamber seems to have been
covered with a dome, supported above the angles of the square by slabs which were
laid across them, changing the
square to an octagon. M. de
Vogiie suggests that this dome
was of hemispherical shapc, but I
am inclined to believe that it was
a tall ellipse (see page 315).
The design of the exterior is
severe in the extreme, yet it is
relieved by a few ornamental de-
tails which are of more than or-
dinary interest. The walls are
built of well-finished ashler, un-
relieved by base mold or angie
pilasters. The ornament is con-
centrated upon the three portals of
the fagade, the windows of the long
hall, and certain interior details.
The great central portal and
the two side portals are similarly
treated, so far as their frame mold-
ings are concerned : two flat bands
separated by a quirk are carried
up the jambs and across the lintel; outside of these is a deep molding consisting
of a fillet, an ovolo, a cavetto, and a fascia. This group of moldings rests, on either
side of the doorways, upon claw-like feet. The side entrances have no door-cap above
them, and the wall over the lintels is perfectly plain, but the great central portal is
surmounted by an elaborate frieze and cornice beneath a broad relieving-arch. The
frieze is a cavetto in section, and is ornamented with perpendicular grooves suggestive
of Egyptian sources. Above this is a deep ovolo carved with conventionalized oak
leaves lying horizontally, and with an upright acanthus leaf at either end by way of
a finish. The ovolo is surmounted by a bead and reel and an egg-and-dart mold-
ing which carries a row of dentils, above which are set the bed mold and the con-
soles of the cornice. The cornice is finished off with a bead and reel and a cymatium
Portals of the palace at Shakka, from the southeast.
PAGAN ARCHITECTURE IN THE DJEBEL HAURAN
which carried slabs of stone to form a floor for the upper story. The high arches of
this hall sprang from deep pilasters on either side, and these were reinforced on the
outside by buttresses of considerable depth, which are still to be seen on the south
side. The ground rises abruptly on the north of the long hall, and the floor of the
main square chamber, which was laid upon the solid rock, is on the same level with
the artificial floor of the long western hall. This square chamber seems to have been
covered with a dome, supported above the angles of the square by slabs which were
laid across them, changing the
square to an octagon. M. de
Vogiie suggests that this dome
was of hemispherical shapc, but I
am inclined to believe that it was
a tall ellipse (see page 315).
The design of the exterior is
severe in the extreme, yet it is
relieved by a few ornamental de-
tails which are of more than or-
dinary interest. The walls are
built of well-finished ashler, un-
relieved by base mold or angie
pilasters. The ornament is con-
centrated upon the three portals of
the fagade, the windows of the long
hall, and certain interior details.
The great central portal and
the two side portals are similarly
treated, so far as their frame mold-
ings are concerned : two flat bands
separated by a quirk are carried
up the jambs and across the lintel; outside of these is a deep molding consisting
of a fillet, an ovolo, a cavetto, and a fascia. This group of moldings rests, on either
side of the doorways, upon claw-like feet. The side entrances have no door-cap above
them, and the wall over the lintels is perfectly plain, but the great central portal is
surmounted by an elaborate frieze and cornice beneath a broad relieving-arch. The
frieze is a cavetto in section, and is ornamented with perpendicular grooves suggestive
of Egyptian sources. Above this is a deep ovolo carved with conventionalized oak
leaves lying horizontally, and with an upright acanthus leaf at either end by way of
a finish. The ovolo is surmounted by a bead and reel and an egg-and-dart mold-
ing which carries a row of dentils, above which are set the bed mold and the con-
soles of the cornice. The cornice is finished off with a bead and reel and a cymatium
Portals of the palace at Shakka, from the southeast.