Fergusson, James: A history of architecture in all countries, from the earliest times to the present day: in five volumes (Band 1) (London, 1893)

450

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE.

Paet II.

with which the ornament is carved on the Golden Gate agrees in style
and character with that in the church of St. Demetrius at Thessalonica
dating from the commencement of the 6th century.

Of similar style and character are the arch-moulds of the double

gate on the south wall of the
Haram, and the cupolas of
the interior vestihule, the
columns carrying them how-
ever being probably of earlier
date and possibly part of
the substructure of Herod’s
temple. The surface decora-
tion of these cupolas is simi-
lar to that found in Central
Syria.

The sepulchral remains of
Syria, both structural and

324. Golden Gateway (west side). (From a Photograph.) 10ck-cut, seem neaily as nu-

merous as the dwellings of
the living, and are full of interest, not only from their frequently
bearing dates, but from their presenting new types of tombs, or old
types in such new forms as scarcely to be recognizable.

The oldest example, that of Hamrath in Souideh, dates from the

325. Eoof of one of tbe Compartments of the Gate I-Iuldah. (From De Vogue.)

1st century B.C., and consists of a tomb 28 ft. square decorated with
semi-detached Doric columns; the roof is gone, but it was probably
covered with one of pyramidal form iike the tomb of Zechariah
(Woodcut No. 238).