DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32867#0445
CHURCHES
4i3
semicircle of the arch and is then returned horizontally across the fagade. The arch is
now filled up with stones carelessly thrown together, a part, no doubt, of the fortifica-
tions. The dome of concrete is, in section, a pointed
ellipse with its major axis perpendicular. In con-
struction it is light and airy, and gives the appear-
ance of being built of mud, like the ordinary kubbeh
of the region farther north. The dome rests upon
eight arches without true pendentives, though the
spandrels between the arches are curved slightly
forward toward the base of the dome. The arches
are carried by tall piers with simple splay-faced caps.
On the north side of the space before the apse is a
large rectangular apartment with a similar chamber
above it. The lower chamber is quite dark and has
a ceiling of stone that forms the floor of the upper
chamber, which is lighted by a fair-sized window on
the east and one on the north. This upper chamber
opens, on the west, into a triangular chamber above
one of the recesses on one of the oblique sides of
the great interior octagon. From this a stair leads
up to the flat roof around the dome of the church.
The photograph of the interior shows patches of
white plaster clinging to the stonework in a number
of places. Portions of this plaster are unquestion-
West portal of Church of St. George at Zor'ah.
ably ancient. It was applied to the finished surfaces
of the arches as well as to the rougher faces of the spandrels, and lined the dome com-
pletely. It is impossible to determine from these remnants whether the plaster was
originally smooth and painted, or whether mosaic was applied ; but we have here good
evidence that the interiors of these basalt buildings were in some way relieved and
brightened. It is possible that both mosaic and painted decoration were used in this
particular building. The traces of color in the dome are probably not original.
4i3
semicircle of the arch and is then returned horizontally across the fagade. The arch is
now filled up with stones carelessly thrown together, a part, no doubt, of the fortifica-
tions. The dome of concrete is, in section, a pointed
ellipse with its major axis perpendicular. In con-
struction it is light and airy, and gives the appear-
ance of being built of mud, like the ordinary kubbeh
of the region farther north. The dome rests upon
eight arches without true pendentives, though the
spandrels between the arches are curved slightly
forward toward the base of the dome. The arches
are carried by tall piers with simple splay-faced caps.
On the north side of the space before the apse is a
large rectangular apartment with a similar chamber
above it. The lower chamber is quite dark and has
a ceiling of stone that forms the floor of the upper
chamber, which is lighted by a fair-sized window on
the east and one on the north. This upper chamber
opens, on the west, into a triangular chamber above
one of the recesses on one of the oblique sides of
the great interior octagon. From this a stair leads
up to the flat roof around the dome of the church.
The photograph of the interior shows patches of
white plaster clinging to the stonework in a number
of places. Portions of this plaster are unquestion-
West portal of Church of St. George at Zor'ah.
ably ancient. It was applied to the finished surfaces
of the arches as well as to the rougher faces of the spandrels, and lined the dome com-
pletely. It is impossible to determine from these remnants whether the plaster was
originally smooth and painted, or whether mosaic was applied ; but we have here good
evidence that the interiors of these basalt buildings were in some way relieved and
brightened. It is possible that both mosaic and painted decoration were used in this
particular building. The traces of color in the dome are probably not original.