DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36287#0031
PALMYRA AND THE REGION OF THE HAURAN
9
throughout this hill country, and which are not recorded on any maps or in any pub-
lished works issued prior to the time of our visit to Syria. Even in some of the well-
known places we found many inscriptions and ruined buildings that had not been
described. We had not supposed that our predecessors had left so many treasures
for us to study and report upon.
The panorama which claimed our attention the first evening at Kalb Lauzeh rivals
in its coloring the beautiful view of the Lebanon range and of the Mediterranean that
is to be had from 'Alaih, Brummana, and other points high up in the mountains. A
vast expanse of gray limestone surrounded us, with here and there the green of a small
olive grove, or the reddish-brown of a patch of rich soil. Beyond the valley of the
hidden Orontes river, toward the west, rises a range of mountains which stretches
southward as far as Ladikiyeh. Beyond them again, and southwest from Kalb Lau-
zeh, rises the high conical mountain called Djebel il-Akra', the Mons Casius of the
Romansd Toward the south is the level valley which separates the Djebel il-A'la
and the Djebel Barisha from the Djebel Riha, through which we journeyed later.
Immediately to the east of and parallel to the Djebel il-Ada is the Djebel Barisha,
into which we soon extended our explorations. Beyond the Djebel Barisha toward
the northeast rises the Djebel Halakah, the "Ring Mountain," encircling the level
plain or valley of Sermeda. It appears to be either a part of or identical with the
Djebel Sim'an. Above this mountain towers the symmetrical cone called Djebel
Shekh Berekat, which, though only some 2800 feet high, is one of the most conspicuous
landmarks in northern Syria. Beyond this mountain the hills fall away in gentle
undulations toward the barren region in which lies the city of Aleppo.
North of Kalb Lauzeh is the most beautiful part of the scene. At the foot of the
Djebel il-A'la is the great depression of the Bahr il-Abyad, or the "White Sea."
brom a distance its water appears to be of a bright blue, contrasting sharply with the
many shades of brown of the soil in the fertile plain and with the gray rocks and scrub
growth on the Amanus mountains beyond. This great range lies to the northwest
and extends as far north as the Taurus mountains and Armenia. Nearly due north
of the Djebel il-A'la, and not far away, is the southernmost end of the Kurd moun-
tains, and between them Rows the Nahr 'Afrin, which rises near 'Aintab.
On the 26th of October some of us went back to Benabil, and we arranged to meet
for lunch at Barrish Kalb Lauzeh. These ruins, which we had passed on the way to
Kalb Lauzeh, turned out to be of little worth, though we found a great mass of hewn
stones strewn about. Only a few are now standing in their places, forming a portion
of a wall or the lintel and jambs of a doorway. One private house remains in a fair
state of preservation.
After lunch I paid a visit to Kfer, which is one of the most interesting ruined
* Le Strange: Palestine under the Moslems, p. 8i.
9
throughout this hill country, and which are not recorded on any maps or in any pub-
lished works issued prior to the time of our visit to Syria. Even in some of the well-
known places we found many inscriptions and ruined buildings that had not been
described. We had not supposed that our predecessors had left so many treasures
for us to study and report upon.
The panorama which claimed our attention the first evening at Kalb Lauzeh rivals
in its coloring the beautiful view of the Lebanon range and of the Mediterranean that
is to be had from 'Alaih, Brummana, and other points high up in the mountains. A
vast expanse of gray limestone surrounded us, with here and there the green of a small
olive grove, or the reddish-brown of a patch of rich soil. Beyond the valley of the
hidden Orontes river, toward the west, rises a range of mountains which stretches
southward as far as Ladikiyeh. Beyond them again, and southwest from Kalb Lau-
zeh, rises the high conical mountain called Djebel il-Akra', the Mons Casius of the
Romansd Toward the south is the level valley which separates the Djebel il-A'la
and the Djebel Barisha from the Djebel Riha, through which we journeyed later.
Immediately to the east of and parallel to the Djebel il-Ada is the Djebel Barisha,
into which we soon extended our explorations. Beyond the Djebel Barisha toward
the northeast rises the Djebel Halakah, the "Ring Mountain," encircling the level
plain or valley of Sermeda. It appears to be either a part of or identical with the
Djebel Sim'an. Above this mountain towers the symmetrical cone called Djebel
Shekh Berekat, which, though only some 2800 feet high, is one of the most conspicuous
landmarks in northern Syria. Beyond this mountain the hills fall away in gentle
undulations toward the barren region in which lies the city of Aleppo.
North of Kalb Lauzeh is the most beautiful part of the scene. At the foot of the
Djebel il-A'la is the great depression of the Bahr il-Abyad, or the "White Sea."
brom a distance its water appears to be of a bright blue, contrasting sharply with the
many shades of brown of the soil in the fertile plain and with the gray rocks and scrub
growth on the Amanus mountains beyond. This great range lies to the northwest
and extends as far north as the Taurus mountains and Armenia. Nearly due north
of the Djebel il-A'la, and not far away, is the southernmost end of the Kurd moun-
tains, and between them Rows the Nahr 'Afrin, which rises near 'Aintab.
On the 26th of October some of us went back to Benabil, and we arranged to meet
for lunch at Barrish Kalb Lauzeh. These ruins, which we had passed on the way to
Kalb Lauzeh, turned out to be of little worth, though we found a great mass of hewn
stones strewn about. Only a few are now standing in their places, forming a portion
of a wall or the lintel and jambs of a doorway. One private house remains in a fair
state of preservation.
After lunch I paid a visit to Kfer, which is one of the most interesting ruined
* Le Strange: Palestine under the Moslems, p. 8i.