DOI article:
Gawlikowski, Michał: Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42008#0046
the characteristic Palmyrene way of which the earliest instance seems to be the
facade of the theatre, and the latest the principiaof Diocletian: big slabs
laid in pairs back to back form courses of about 1 min height, alternating with
lower courses of bonders. This masonry stands now up to 3m above the pavement,
and much less for the most part, but the fallen blocks allow a graphical
restoration up to the level of 4.10m, where a comice ran projected at regular
intervals of 1.15m for stretches of equal length. Blocks providing evidence for
this feature were found only at locations corresponding to the long walls of the
hall. The arch of the apse sprang from their level, thus marking the mid-height
of the building when complete. The upper half of walls is however not
represented in the mass of stone debris and consisted probably of mudbrick.
The hall was approached from the South through a door 1.75m wide, set in
the middle of one of the short walls. There was certainly a flight of steps
rising from the courtyard in front, but these are covered by a later pavement.
On the opposite, northern side of the building there opened three passages
separatedbypillars3.8minheight, fallen on the present surface. The central
passage was 3.5m wide, the lateral ones measure 1.9 meach. They led into
another courtyard behind, also paved as our soundings have shown.
On both long sides the hall was separated from neighboring streets by rows
of rooms. A door led into one at the SW corner of the hall. The rooms on this
'side, or perhaps a single corridor, unexcavated as yet, measure 3.2m between
thewalls. On the opposite, eastern side, the rooms surrounded the apse opening
in the middle of the wall. The distance between the main building and the street
wall on this side, which consists of high slabs running without any opening all
the way along the basilica, is of 7.25 m, thus allowing enough space for the
apse. This is pentagonal in outline and 5.8m wide between two pillars crowned
with square capitals from which the arch sprang.
All the voussoirswere found, either on surface or in the fill; they are
decorated on both faces with a laurel frieze and on the underside with another
laurel scroll and rosettes in coffers. The style of this decoration, however
4!
facade of the theatre, and the latest the principiaof Diocletian: big slabs
laid in pairs back to back form courses of about 1 min height, alternating with
lower courses of bonders. This masonry stands now up to 3m above the pavement,
and much less for the most part, but the fallen blocks allow a graphical
restoration up to the level of 4.10m, where a comice ran projected at regular
intervals of 1.15m for stretches of equal length. Blocks providing evidence for
this feature were found only at locations corresponding to the long walls of the
hall. The arch of the apse sprang from their level, thus marking the mid-height
of the building when complete. The upper half of walls is however not
represented in the mass of stone debris and consisted probably of mudbrick.
The hall was approached from the South through a door 1.75m wide, set in
the middle of one of the short walls. There was certainly a flight of steps
rising from the courtyard in front, but these are covered by a later pavement.
On the opposite, northern side of the building there opened three passages
separatedbypillars3.8minheight, fallen on the present surface. The central
passage was 3.5m wide, the lateral ones measure 1.9 meach. They led into
another courtyard behind, also paved as our soundings have shown.
On both long sides the hall was separated from neighboring streets by rows
of rooms. A door led into one at the SW corner of the hall. The rooms on this
'side, or perhaps a single corridor, unexcavated as yet, measure 3.2m between
thewalls. On the opposite, eastern side, the rooms surrounded the apse opening
in the middle of the wall. The distance between the main building and the street
wall on this side, which consists of high slabs running without any opening all
the way along the basilica, is of 7.25 m, thus allowing enough space for the
apse. This is pentagonal in outline and 5.8m wide between two pillars crowned
with square capitals from which the arch sprang.
All the voussoirswere found, either on surface or in the fill; they are
decorated on both faces with a laurel frieze and on the underside with another
laurel scroll and rosettes in coffers. The style of this decoration, however
4!