DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0096
6o
II. A. I. Ammonitis.
end of the city to the other. By this conduit, not only was the water protected from
contamination in its course through the town, but the narrow space between the steep
slopes that confined the valley was enlarged, levelled and made serviceable. A short
section of this conduit is well preserved at a point just below the nymphaeum. This
has always been described as a bridge, though it leads only to a narrow ledge at the
foot of the cliff. A more minute examination
•SPRINGERS· 22. LW
-ToNvm PHAEVM
34. M
■ VAVLT I
of the preserved section of the vault and
its surroundings (Ill. 39) convinces one, at
once, that this was not built for a bridge ·,
the spring-stones of a vault are in situ
for a dictance of 22 m. above the preserved
vault, on the north side of the stream, and
for 8 m. below it on both sides. At this
point the conduit turned in an obtuse angle
toward the southeast, and, from the angle,
the side walls and springstones of the vault
can be traced over 100 m. down the stream,
on the south side, to a point where both
banks are hidden in debris. Remains of the
conduit are again to be traced further down
the stream, in the vicinity of the theatre,
from which it is plain that the stream was
conducted upon a paved bottom, and under
a vaulted covering from the nymphaeum to the extreme eastern end of the city. The
conduit is 10.30 m. wide in the clear; it has perpendicular side walls about 1.50 m.
high, at the top of which is a narrow set-off from which the vault springs. The
vault is, in section, a segment of a circle struck from the level of the bottom of the
side walls·, it was splendidly constructed of rather small wedges laid dry. The original
level of the city at this point was made by a filling as high as the crown of the vault;
but the collapse of the vault has
completely altered the levels, and
filled the bed of the stream with
broken vaulting stone and rubbish
from above. The lighter materials
have gradually washed out, so
that the north bank now slopes
from the stream back to the level
of the colonnaded avenue, though,
in ancient times, there must have
been a comparatively level surface
stretching from the avenue to the
steep cliffs on the south side of
the stream.
Ancient Wall Near Mosque. The best preserved of the fragments of buildings
that are later than the great Roman period, is a fine section of wall, with three portals
and four windows in it, that now forms the north side of the court-yard of the mosque
(Ill. 40). The wall is of great thickness (1.55 m.), laid dry, in courses of 45 to 50 cm.;
II. A. I. Ammonitis.
end of the city to the other. By this conduit, not only was the water protected from
contamination in its course through the town, but the narrow space between the steep
slopes that confined the valley was enlarged, levelled and made serviceable. A short
section of this conduit is well preserved at a point just below the nymphaeum. This
has always been described as a bridge, though it leads only to a narrow ledge at the
foot of the cliff. A more minute examination
•SPRINGERS· 22. LW
-ToNvm PHAEVM
34. M
■ VAVLT I
of the preserved section of the vault and
its surroundings (Ill. 39) convinces one, at
once, that this was not built for a bridge ·,
the spring-stones of a vault are in situ
for a dictance of 22 m. above the preserved
vault, on the north side of the stream, and
for 8 m. below it on both sides. At this
point the conduit turned in an obtuse angle
toward the southeast, and, from the angle,
the side walls and springstones of the vault
can be traced over 100 m. down the stream,
on the south side, to a point where both
banks are hidden in debris. Remains of the
conduit are again to be traced further down
the stream, in the vicinity of the theatre,
from which it is plain that the stream was
conducted upon a paved bottom, and under
a vaulted covering from the nymphaeum to the extreme eastern end of the city. The
conduit is 10.30 m. wide in the clear; it has perpendicular side walls about 1.50 m.
high, at the top of which is a narrow set-off from which the vault springs. The
vault is, in section, a segment of a circle struck from the level of the bottom of the
side walls·, it was splendidly constructed of rather small wedges laid dry. The original
level of the city at this point was made by a filling as high as the crown of the vault;
but the collapse of the vault has
completely altered the levels, and
filled the bed of the stream with
broken vaulting stone and rubbish
from above. The lighter materials
have gradually washed out, so
that the north bank now slopes
from the stream back to the level
of the colonnaded avenue, though,
in ancient times, there must have
been a comparatively level surface
stretching from the avenue to the
steep cliffs on the south side of
the stream.
Ancient Wall Near Mosque. The best preserved of the fragments of buildings
that are later than the great Roman period, is a fine section of wall, with three portals
and four windows in it, that now forms the north side of the court-yard of the mosque
(Ill. 40). The wall is of great thickness (1.55 m.), laid dry, in courses of 45 to 50 cm.;