DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0032
cArak il-Emir.
5
and almost completely surrounded with water.1 2 The rectangular space was only slightly
larger than the building, providing a narrow passage all around it, and connecting, at
the northeast angle, with the ground to the east, by means of a roadway; that is,
if we assume that the causeway is contemporary with the building.
The outline of the building is a great rectangle, just twice as long as it is broad;
(Ill. 2) its longer axis runs about north and south.3 The rectangle measures 37 m. x
18.50 m., which would be 100 x 50 feet, if two thirds of the Babylonian cubit of 555
millimetres, i. e., 370 millimetres, be taken to represent the foot used. The two ends
of the east wall are preserved up to the cornice (Ill. 2. A.), between them the first
course was found to be intact; the second course, composed of megaliths about 2.50 m.
high and with a maximum length of 5.36 m., is broken at intervals, which are shown
as a doorway and windows on M. de Vogue’s and Capt. Conder’s plans. The third
course is still represented in its place by four blocks and a half, each 1.55 m. high,
and aggregating 17 m. in length. Above this are sections of an ornamental string
course upon which rest four blocks of the great frieze, 2 m. high. (Ill. 1. B.). All the
rest of the building is in a complete state of ruin. It was very difficult, for reason
given above, to secure data even for the plan given here.
Plan. — This was made from measurements of the foundations, or of parts of
the superstructure in situ, as follows: The north wall, including the thickness of the
end walls, was found to measure 37 m. From the north east angle to the northwest
angle, where the first course is still visible (Ill. 2. B.), the length is 18.50 m. Only
the foundations of the west side are in place, except at the ends, but many details
for the reconstruction were found along the line of the wall. The middle third of
the north end was open, forming a portico with two columns in the opening: the
bases of these columns were found approximately in situ. At the south end a
similar arrangement seems to have existed, though the evidence is not so perfect; for
only the shafts of columns were found, and two blocks, that appeared to be plinths,
in the opening. Within the opening at the north, at a distance of 5 m. from the
wall, is a transverse wall with parts of its first course in situ and with a doorway in
the middle. On the right and left, between this wall and the north wall of the buil-
ding, are longitudinal walls inclosing chambers (5 m. X 3.60 m.), in the angles of the
building. In the chamber on the east was a staircase.
Within the opening at the south end there appears to have been a transverse
wall 3.55 m. from the outer wall, and here, as at the opposite end, chambers are found
in the angles, these 3.55 m. square. The transverse wall seems to have been umbro-
ken except near the ends, but the evidence for this is not conclusive. The two cham-
bers have small doorways opening into the interior of the building, and one of them
at least, probably had an opening in the side. Thus far we have an oblong structure
with distyle openings and enclosed porches at either end, and rectangular chambers in
the angles, flanking the porches. The interior presents an enigma; it is now filled with
debris, — soil to the height of 2 meters above the foundations — and, upon this, heaps
of ponderous blocks of limestone are piled, except in the middle where masses of
1 The causeway which now connects the ruin with higher ground to the east, may have been built in the middle
ages, when the structure seems to have been fortified, to some extent, by the Mohammedans.
2 Bearing of front wall, i6o°.
5
and almost completely surrounded with water.1 2 The rectangular space was only slightly
larger than the building, providing a narrow passage all around it, and connecting, at
the northeast angle, with the ground to the east, by means of a roadway; that is,
if we assume that the causeway is contemporary with the building.
The outline of the building is a great rectangle, just twice as long as it is broad;
(Ill. 2) its longer axis runs about north and south.3 The rectangle measures 37 m. x
18.50 m., which would be 100 x 50 feet, if two thirds of the Babylonian cubit of 555
millimetres, i. e., 370 millimetres, be taken to represent the foot used. The two ends
of the east wall are preserved up to the cornice (Ill. 2. A.), between them the first
course was found to be intact; the second course, composed of megaliths about 2.50 m.
high and with a maximum length of 5.36 m., is broken at intervals, which are shown
as a doorway and windows on M. de Vogue’s and Capt. Conder’s plans. The third
course is still represented in its place by four blocks and a half, each 1.55 m. high,
and aggregating 17 m. in length. Above this are sections of an ornamental string
course upon which rest four blocks of the great frieze, 2 m. high. (Ill. 1. B.). All the
rest of the building is in a complete state of ruin. It was very difficult, for reason
given above, to secure data even for the plan given here.
Plan. — This was made from measurements of the foundations, or of parts of
the superstructure in situ, as follows: The north wall, including the thickness of the
end walls, was found to measure 37 m. From the north east angle to the northwest
angle, where the first course is still visible (Ill. 2. B.), the length is 18.50 m. Only
the foundations of the west side are in place, except at the ends, but many details
for the reconstruction were found along the line of the wall. The middle third of
the north end was open, forming a portico with two columns in the opening: the
bases of these columns were found approximately in situ. At the south end a
similar arrangement seems to have existed, though the evidence is not so perfect; for
only the shafts of columns were found, and two blocks, that appeared to be plinths,
in the opening. Within the opening at the north, at a distance of 5 m. from the
wall, is a transverse wall with parts of its first course in situ and with a doorway in
the middle. On the right and left, between this wall and the north wall of the buil-
ding, are longitudinal walls inclosing chambers (5 m. X 3.60 m.), in the angles of the
building. In the chamber on the east was a staircase.
Within the opening at the south end there appears to have been a transverse
wall 3.55 m. from the outer wall, and here, as at the opposite end, chambers are found
in the angles, these 3.55 m. square. The transverse wall seems to have been umbro-
ken except near the ends, but the evidence for this is not conclusive. The two cham-
bers have small doorways opening into the interior of the building, and one of them
at least, probably had an opening in the side. Thus far we have an oblong structure
with distyle openings and enclosed porches at either end, and rectangular chambers in
the angles, flanking the porches. The interior presents an enigma; it is now filled with
debris, — soil to the height of 2 meters above the foundations — and, upon this, heaps
of ponderous blocks of limestone are piled, except in the middle where masses of
1 The causeway which now connects the ruin with higher ground to the east, may have been built in the middle
ages, when the structure seems to have been fortified, to some extent, by the Mohammedans.
2 Bearing of front wall, i6o°.