DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0034
cArak il-Emir.
7
b roken stone and fragments of details are thickly interwoven with scrub oak. At
the south end two walls project inward on the lines of the inner walls of the angle
chambers (Ill. 2. B); but these, with other fragments of interior walls, are poorly con-
structed of small blocks of stone, entirely out of keeping with the rest of the structure,
and probably belong to the Mohammedan period. The ruins of the side walls show
exactly similar details on both sides. The east wall is broken quite irregularly throughout
its second course, as is shown in the restored plan (Ill. 2. C.); four of these breaks
measure .88 m. to 1 m. wide, and the stones between them, or next to them, are
exactly 2 m. long. The wide space in the middle, shown on other plans as a doorway,
measures 3.72 m.; a stone of the second course lying beside the opening measures 2 m.
in length, leaving two spaces, each .88 m. wide, on either side, if it were replaced. I
am convinced that these spaces were not originally openings; for just inside the wall
there are stones of the shape shown in Ill. 3 which exactly fill the spaces. These
B
in. 3
- - 86 - ■ ->
C
blocks are of peculiar shape, being T form or | form in plan, the foot of the
T or I terminating in a semicircle, or (in elevation) in a half cylinder. Now these
dressed blocks of irregular shape are nothing less than parts of the regular wall coursing
with interior projections, terminating in half columns, cut in this peculiar way for special
solidity. Measurements taken at the top and bottom of the half columns show a decided
diminution, and there are many half capitals lying near by, which fit them nicely,
as will be described later. On the opposite side a similar set of wall blocks of
the regular coursing, 2 m. long, and T form and I form blocks, and half capitals
show that the two side walls were similarly arranged. The spacing, as shown in the
restored plan, gives nine half columns on either side, with narrower spaces at the ends
next the walls. The presence of ill-constructed, probably modern, walls upon a line
connecting the inner walls of the angle chambers has led me to conjecture a foun-
dation of some sort far below the present surface; but whether this foundation was
one for a wall or for a row of columns is entirely uncertain. If a wall were placed
here, we should have a partial reproduction of the conjectural plan of the Temple
of Jerusalem. 1
A restoration of the north porch, including all the details at hand, is even more
puzzling than the restoration of the side walls. The distyle entrance can be restored
with certainty·, for the lower part of an engaged column on the west side is still in
situ; the bases of the columns have been only slightly dislodged, and all the details
are lying close together. The order of these two columns is an Oriental variation of
the style which we call Corinthian, and will be described fully below. But within lies
a confused mass of details, all of which undoubtedly stood just above the spot where
1 See Temple de Jerusalem., de Vogue, Pls 14. 15·
7
b roken stone and fragments of details are thickly interwoven with scrub oak. At
the south end two walls project inward on the lines of the inner walls of the angle
chambers (Ill. 2. B); but these, with other fragments of interior walls, are poorly con-
structed of small blocks of stone, entirely out of keeping with the rest of the structure,
and probably belong to the Mohammedan period. The ruins of the side walls show
exactly similar details on both sides. The east wall is broken quite irregularly throughout
its second course, as is shown in the restored plan (Ill. 2. C.); four of these breaks
measure .88 m. to 1 m. wide, and the stones between them, or next to them, are
exactly 2 m. long. The wide space in the middle, shown on other plans as a doorway,
measures 3.72 m.; a stone of the second course lying beside the opening measures 2 m.
in length, leaving two spaces, each .88 m. wide, on either side, if it were replaced. I
am convinced that these spaces were not originally openings; for just inside the wall
there are stones of the shape shown in Ill. 3 which exactly fill the spaces. These
B
in. 3
- - 86 - ■ ->
C
blocks are of peculiar shape, being T form or | form in plan, the foot of the
T or I terminating in a semicircle, or (in elevation) in a half cylinder. Now these
dressed blocks of irregular shape are nothing less than parts of the regular wall coursing
with interior projections, terminating in half columns, cut in this peculiar way for special
solidity. Measurements taken at the top and bottom of the half columns show a decided
diminution, and there are many half capitals lying near by, which fit them nicely,
as will be described later. On the opposite side a similar set of wall blocks of
the regular coursing, 2 m. long, and T form and I form blocks, and half capitals
show that the two side walls were similarly arranged. The spacing, as shown in the
restored plan, gives nine half columns on either side, with narrower spaces at the ends
next the walls. The presence of ill-constructed, probably modern, walls upon a line
connecting the inner walls of the angle chambers has led me to conjecture a foun-
dation of some sort far below the present surface; but whether this foundation was
one for a wall or for a row of columns is entirely uncertain. If a wall were placed
here, we should have a partial reproduction of the conjectural plan of the Temple
of Jerusalem. 1
A restoration of the north porch, including all the details at hand, is even more
puzzling than the restoration of the side walls. The distyle entrance can be restored
with certainty·, for the lower part of an engaged column on the west side is still in
situ; the bases of the columns have been only slightly dislodged, and all the details
are lying close together. The order of these two columns is an Oriental variation of
the style which we call Corinthian, and will be described fully below. But within lies
a confused mass of details, all of which undoubtedly stood just above the spot where
1 See Temple de Jerusalem., de Vogue, Pls 14. 15·