DOI article:
Kowalski, Sławomir P.: The praetorium of the camp of Diocletian on Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26419#0085
Studia Palmyreńskie IX, 1994
57
20.
Length of room A7 (incl. the northern wall)
4.70
4.95
15
I believe that for the door openings another module was used, i.e. a Persian-Babylonian royal cubit
PuoLXriïoç irrixvç u- Thus, the main entrance was actually 1.61 m wide, that is nearly 3 cubits (ideally
1.65 m). The remaining doors were mainly 1.10 m wide, i.e. exactly 2 cubits.
As it is obvious from the above table, there are discrepancies between actual values of measurements
and the ideal ones. There is, however, an explanation to this fact. The lines of the southern and the
western sides of the peristyle did not meet at right angle. The actual value was 93° while, as I believe,
the designed one was 90°. That 3° was just the difference between the orientation of the via praetoria
and the via principalis and that of the Allat temple (Gawlikowski 1983: 62). That was enough to change
some of the projected measurements. Another factor which influenced the values of actual measurements
was careless construction and the fact that the design had to be adjusted to already existing structures.
THE PRAETORIUMIN THE LATE PERIOD
1. LATE PERIOD I
The building of Praetorium must have been destroyed by an earthquake 15, as suggested by the way
it was later rebuilt 16 about the turn of the sixth/seventh century. This earthquake is archaeologically
attested in downtown Palmyra (Gawlikowski 1992: 71). Shortly afterwards, the house was reconstructed.
It might be dated by a coin found in the wall closing the rear court ffom the north (SU 183). The coin
is probably an Umayyad imitation of a Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine/o/fo struck either in Antioch
or in Antaradus. Those "Arab-Byzantine" coins are dated either to 640-670 by Cecile Morrisson
14 Its metrical value was 0.55 m (Lehmann-Haupt 1918: 644).
15 It could be the great earthquake of 599 A.D. which destroyed many town in Syria and killed multitude of people (Ambraseys
1969-1971: 68). However, as details of the exact places destroyed are lacking, I cannot be sure that this earthquake affected
Palmyra. On the other hand, this is the only known earthquake in the sixth and the seventh century A.D. which seems to have
caused damages in the whole of Syria.
16 Columns A and F must have fallen down as they were replaced by walls. The drums were placed in the south-westem
comer of the peristyle and used as benches.
57
20.
Length of room A7 (incl. the northern wall)
4.70
4.95
15
I believe that for the door openings another module was used, i.e. a Persian-Babylonian royal cubit
PuoLXriïoç irrixvç u- Thus, the main entrance was actually 1.61 m wide, that is nearly 3 cubits (ideally
1.65 m). The remaining doors were mainly 1.10 m wide, i.e. exactly 2 cubits.
As it is obvious from the above table, there are discrepancies between actual values of measurements
and the ideal ones. There is, however, an explanation to this fact. The lines of the southern and the
western sides of the peristyle did not meet at right angle. The actual value was 93° while, as I believe,
the designed one was 90°. That 3° was just the difference between the orientation of the via praetoria
and the via principalis and that of the Allat temple (Gawlikowski 1983: 62). That was enough to change
some of the projected measurements. Another factor which influenced the values of actual measurements
was careless construction and the fact that the design had to be adjusted to already existing structures.
THE PRAETORIUMIN THE LATE PERIOD
1. LATE PERIOD I
The building of Praetorium must have been destroyed by an earthquake 15, as suggested by the way
it was later rebuilt 16 about the turn of the sixth/seventh century. This earthquake is archaeologically
attested in downtown Palmyra (Gawlikowski 1992: 71). Shortly afterwards, the house was reconstructed.
It might be dated by a coin found in the wall closing the rear court ffom the north (SU 183). The coin
is probably an Umayyad imitation of a Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine/o/fo struck either in Antioch
or in Antaradus. Those "Arab-Byzantine" coins are dated either to 640-670 by Cecile Morrisson
14 Its metrical value was 0.55 m (Lehmann-Haupt 1918: 644).
15 It could be the great earthquake of 599 A.D. which destroyed many town in Syria and killed multitude of people (Ambraseys
1969-1971: 68). However, as details of the exact places destroyed are lacking, I cannot be sure that this earthquake affected
Palmyra. On the other hand, this is the only known earthquake in the sixth and the seventh century A.D. which seems to have
caused damages in the whole of Syria.
16 Columns A and F must have fallen down as they were replaced by walls. The drums were placed in the south-westem
comer of the peristyle and used as benches.