DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0029
cArak il-Emir.
3
up to the roof, and adorned with sculptures of animals of enormous size, and
he surrounded it with a moat (Αριπον) wide and deep”.
(ο) “And in the rock of the opposite mountain, cutting through the projecting
portions of it (το τφο/χον), he excavated caverns of many stadia in length; he
then made chambers in it, some for feasting, others for sleeping and for the
usual conveniences of living”.
(4) “ He also brought a supply of running water which added much to the com-
fort and beauty of the residence”.
(5) “And he also built, in addition (to the above), halls of different dimensions and
adorned them with spacious gardens”.
(1) A glance at any good map will show one that cArak il-Emir lies between
ancient Arabia and Judea·, it is also near Heshbon. Irby and Mangles covered the
distance in four hours. The present name of the stream near by is Wadi is-Sir, a name
reminiscent of the ancient name of the place.
(2) The ruined building called Kasr il-cAbd, at cAr£k il-Emir, is the only ruin of
importance in this locality, west of Amman; it was certainly a mighty edifice, was
built of white stone from the foundations to the cornice, and was adorned with colos-
sal figures of lions in relief, four of which, three meters long and two meters high,
are still in place. To the south of Kasr il-cAbd the remains of a dam are to be tra-
ced across the valley; the building itself stands on a mound in the middle of a depres-
sion, and the end of a water conduit was found at the upper end of the valley, showing
that the depression was once flooded, leaving the great building upon an island, or perhaps
a peninsula, as it appears now, a little larger than the area of the building itself.
(3) High above the ruins, to the west, north and northwest, rises a steep moun-
tain side, the foot of which is not more than 300 meters distant. A precipitous cliff
far up the mountain side, about 600 meters northeast of the ruins, is honeycombed
with artificial tunnels and chambers, in one and two stories, with roadways for approach,
and long passages before the entrances. These can hardly be described as “many sta-
dia in length”; but there are chambers of all sizes, some spacious and highly finished
within, others small and more crudely executed; while others still appear to have been
kitchens, with outlets for smoke, and stables with mangers for a hundred horses or more.
(4) From the site of the ancient building to a point far up in the valley of the
stream, an aqueduct, partly rock-hewn and partly built up, can be traced with a few
breaks. The conduit received the water of the Wadi is-Sir at a level higher even than
that of the artificial caverns, and must have brought a goodly supply of water to the
settlement, with considerable fall.
(5) One of the “halls” may be recognized in the structure now in complete
ruins on a terrace halfway up the slope between Kasr il-cAbd and the honeycombed
cliffs, or, perhaps Josephus may refer to a group of buildings on a higher plateau
just below the cliffs, jutting out toward the wadi. This spot is the site of the very
small and wretched modern settlement. It has probably been inhabited, at times at
least, for centuries. All traces of the ancient edifices have disappeared, save a few
building stones and some broken columns of the Doric order that have rolled down the
slope. Remains of the gardens are to be seen in an elaborate system of well built
terraces which extend from the Kasr il-cAbd all the way up to the cliffs, and for a
considerable distance down the valley below the ruins.
3
up to the roof, and adorned with sculptures of animals of enormous size, and
he surrounded it with a moat (Αριπον) wide and deep”.
(ο) “And in the rock of the opposite mountain, cutting through the projecting
portions of it (το τφο/χον), he excavated caverns of many stadia in length; he
then made chambers in it, some for feasting, others for sleeping and for the
usual conveniences of living”.
(4) “ He also brought a supply of running water which added much to the com-
fort and beauty of the residence”.
(5) “And he also built, in addition (to the above), halls of different dimensions and
adorned them with spacious gardens”.
(1) A glance at any good map will show one that cArak il-Emir lies between
ancient Arabia and Judea·, it is also near Heshbon. Irby and Mangles covered the
distance in four hours. The present name of the stream near by is Wadi is-Sir, a name
reminiscent of the ancient name of the place.
(2) The ruined building called Kasr il-cAbd, at cAr£k il-Emir, is the only ruin of
importance in this locality, west of Amman; it was certainly a mighty edifice, was
built of white stone from the foundations to the cornice, and was adorned with colos-
sal figures of lions in relief, four of which, three meters long and two meters high,
are still in place. To the south of Kasr il-cAbd the remains of a dam are to be tra-
ced across the valley; the building itself stands on a mound in the middle of a depres-
sion, and the end of a water conduit was found at the upper end of the valley, showing
that the depression was once flooded, leaving the great building upon an island, or perhaps
a peninsula, as it appears now, a little larger than the area of the building itself.
(3) High above the ruins, to the west, north and northwest, rises a steep moun-
tain side, the foot of which is not more than 300 meters distant. A precipitous cliff
far up the mountain side, about 600 meters northeast of the ruins, is honeycombed
with artificial tunnels and chambers, in one and two stories, with roadways for approach,
and long passages before the entrances. These can hardly be described as “many sta-
dia in length”; but there are chambers of all sizes, some spacious and highly finished
within, others small and more crudely executed; while others still appear to have been
kitchens, with outlets for smoke, and stables with mangers for a hundred horses or more.
(4) From the site of the ancient building to a point far up in the valley of the
stream, an aqueduct, partly rock-hewn and partly built up, can be traced with a few
breaks. The conduit received the water of the Wadi is-Sir at a level higher even than
that of the artificial caverns, and must have brought a goodly supply of water to the
settlement, with considerable fall.
(5) One of the “halls” may be recognized in the structure now in complete
ruins on a terrace halfway up the slope between Kasr il-cAbd and the honeycombed
cliffs, or, perhaps Josephus may refer to a group of buildings on a higher plateau
just below the cliffs, jutting out toward the wadi. This spot is the site of the very
small and wretched modern settlement. It has probably been inhabited, at times at
least, for centuries. All traces of the ancient edifices have disappeared, save a few
building stones and some broken columns of the Doric order that have rolled down the
slope. Remains of the gardens are to be seen in an elaborate system of well built
terraces which extend from the Kasr il-cAbd all the way up to the cliffs, and for a
considerable distance down the valley below the ruins.