DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0437
ROMAN PERIOD
405
carried semicircular arches except those at the ends, which bore architraves and sup-
ported tribunes that opened into the nave. The apse protruded beyond the south
wall, and in front of it was a broad
open space (e) flanked by small
chambers which opened upon the
space in front of the apse, but not
into the side aisles.
M. de Yogiie intimates that this
building was the work of early
Christians and compares it with
certain early Christian basilicas in
Rome; M. Dussaud 1 is of the
same opinion, but places the date
a century later than that men-
tioned by M. de Vogiie, i.e., the
fifth century instead of thc fourth :
but I cannot agree with either;
for the style of the columns of
the portico, the construction and
workmanship throughout, and window 111 west wal1 of atrium of basilica in Seraya at Kanawat
especially the lack of orientation, would seem to forbid both theories, particularly in view
of other work that was certainly carried on by the Christians in this same building and
in a number of churches that arewell preserved in the Hauran. The plan is not suit-
able to the services of Christian worship ; the colonnades which extend across the ends
are far more in keeping with the arrangement of the pagan basilicas of the empire, and
the chambers, which have no openings into the aisles, are not planned in the fashion
common in all the Christian churches of Syria; the building is not oriented, as the
Christian houses of worship invariably were in Syria, judging by the multitude of ex-
amples ; the walls, although they were built in large part of old material, were notlaid
in the manner most common in the churchesof the neighborhood; and, finally, we know
the building was remodeled a little later to suit the requirements of the Christian archi-
tects (see page 407).
1 Rene Dussaud, Mission dans les regions desertiques de laSyrie Moyenne, p. 20.
405
carried semicircular arches except those at the ends, which bore architraves and sup-
ported tribunes that opened into the nave. The apse protruded beyond the south
wall, and in front of it was a broad
open space (e) flanked by small
chambers which opened upon the
space in front of the apse, but not
into the side aisles.
M. de Yogiie intimates that this
building was the work of early
Christians and compares it with
certain early Christian basilicas in
Rome; M. Dussaud 1 is of the
same opinion, but places the date
a century later than that men-
tioned by M. de Vogiie, i.e., the
fifth century instead of thc fourth :
but I cannot agree with either;
for the style of the columns of
the portico, the construction and
workmanship throughout, and window 111 west wal1 of atrium of basilica in Seraya at Kanawat
especially the lack of orientation, would seem to forbid both theories, particularly in view
of other work that was certainly carried on by the Christians in this same building and
in a number of churches that arewell preserved in the Hauran. The plan is not suit-
able to the services of Christian worship ; the colonnades which extend across the ends
are far more in keeping with the arrangement of the pagan basilicas of the empire, and
the chambers, which have no openings into the aisles, are not planned in the fashion
common in all the Christian churches of Syria; the building is not oriented, as the
Christian houses of worship invariably were in Syria, judging by the multitude of ex-
amples ; the walls, although they were built in large part of old material, were notlaid
in the manner most common in the churchesof the neighborhood; and, finally, we know
the building was remodeled a little later to suit the requirements of the Christian archi-
tects (see page 407).
1 Rene Dussaud, Mission dans les regions desertiques de laSyrie Moyenne, p. 20.