DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0076
cAmman {Philadelphia}.
45
columns which stand at varying distances from it, conjectured that it might be the remains
of a forum. The ruin consists solely of a wall, 2 m. thick, and about 25 m. long,
lying northeast and southwest, with two short walls projecting from its ends toward
the southeast. Opposite the end of the easternmost of these short walls, at a distance
of 9.40 m. stands the loxver half of a large column, of 1.20 m. diameter. These
fragments constitute the plan of the structure as it stands today (Ill. 28). The wall
is buried to a height of 4 m. at its eastern, and over a meter at its western end
(Ill. 28 A); the western section retains almost its full height, in part at least; for it is
capped by a section of architrave; the other end preserves hardly more than half of
Ill. 29. Γι-opylaea at Djerash.
this height. It is to be observed that the wall has three openings in it, a wide portal
between two narrow ones, and that both faces of the wall are richly ornamented with
orders of pilasters, niches with pediments above them, and finely carved door caps.
Such ornaments are rare in the interior of temples in Syria. It is further to be noticed
that the line of the axis of the central opening in this wall, if produced toward the
northwest, would cut through the centre of the ruined gate of entrance in the akropolis
wall (see map). It was this fact that suggested to me that the structure constituted the
lower propylaea, situated, as it is, near the main avenue of columns, and that from
this point a flight of steps ascended to the gate in the wall of the akropolis. I was
further convinced in my opinion in making a comparison of this ruin with the far
45
columns which stand at varying distances from it, conjectured that it might be the remains
of a forum. The ruin consists solely of a wall, 2 m. thick, and about 25 m. long,
lying northeast and southwest, with two short walls projecting from its ends toward
the southeast. Opposite the end of the easternmost of these short walls, at a distance
of 9.40 m. stands the loxver half of a large column, of 1.20 m. diameter. These
fragments constitute the plan of the structure as it stands today (Ill. 28). The wall
is buried to a height of 4 m. at its eastern, and over a meter at its western end
(Ill. 28 A); the western section retains almost its full height, in part at least; for it is
capped by a section of architrave; the other end preserves hardly more than half of
Ill. 29. Γι-opylaea at Djerash.
this height. It is to be observed that the wall has three openings in it, a wide portal
between two narrow ones, and that both faces of the wall are richly ornamented with
orders of pilasters, niches with pediments above them, and finely carved door caps.
Such ornaments are rare in the interior of temples in Syria. It is further to be noticed
that the line of the axis of the central opening in this wall, if produced toward the
northwest, would cut through the centre of the ruined gate of entrance in the akropolis
wall (see map). It was this fact that suggested to me that the structure constituted the
lower propylaea, situated, as it is, near the main avenue of columns, and that from
this point a flight of steps ascended to the gate in the wall of the akropolis. I was
further convinced in my opinion in making a comparison of this ruin with the far