DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45581#0086
132
II. A. 2. — Southern Hauran
side was plain. The bust is not without interest. It is that of a bearded man with
a veil draped over his head and falling to his shoulders; a forked wand appears over
the left shoulder. The type is reminiscent of busts of Aesculapius; but it has been
suggested that this is a portrait of the emperor Julian wearing the veil of his office
as a priest. The top of the altar, above the cap, is a square block with two “horns”
carved on each face.
50. IR-RUSHEDEH.
On this site we have another ancient town that has served as a quarry for neigh-
bouring villages. Scarcely a fragment of dressed stone has been left by the spoilers.
The location is a fair one, upon a rocky tell rising from the midst of a fertile plain.
It is said that several of the inscriptions, now to be seen in the modern houses ot
nearby villages, came from this place.
51. UMM IR-RUMMAN (REMMONA)
This is a large village inhabited principally by Druses. There are two or three
ancient houses here that have been fitted up for habitation with few alterations. These
were built of smooth quadrated masonry without mouldings or other ornament in stone.
In front of the medafeh of the shekh are two small columns with capitals of late
Christian design. Near by are lying two Ionic capitals of the style commonly seen
in Bosra. There was undoubtedly a Classic building of small scale here, possibly a temple.
52. CANZ.
cAnz is a small village, part Druse and part Christian, built upon a hill on the
site of an ancient town. Below the village is a large pool (Ill. 109) the freshness of
which is maintained, through part of the year at least, by the waters of the Wadi il-
cAkib. There are a few ancient houses that have been made fit for habitation, and a
small church, almost intact, that serves for a stable and store-house. The village abounds
in inscriptions 1 most of which, according to the natives, have been brought from ruins
in the vicinity. The Christian inhabitants of the place are all well disposed towards
travellers, and are very helpful in pointing out inscriptions and antiquities.
Church : This is a long undivided building, spanned by three transverse arches
and having a square east end. (Ill. 110). The easternmost arch is narrower than the
others, and springs from higher imposts, and, being the chancel arch, is thus different-
iated from the others. The arches and the slabs of. the roof appear to be of the
original construction; but the interior is very dark because all the windows have been
stopped up. On the north side of the church there is a small court paved with slabs
of basalt regularly laid and smooth. Clerical or monastic buildings bound the court
on two sides; the fourth side was also probably originally closed by another building.
A narrow passage, roofed with slabs and terminating in arches at both ends, leads
from the court to the street, between the buildings. The church and the adjoining
buildings are built in exceptionally fine masonry, part highly finished and part smooth
1 Div. III, insc. 185—193.
II. A. 2. — Southern Hauran
side was plain. The bust is not without interest. It is that of a bearded man with
a veil draped over his head and falling to his shoulders; a forked wand appears over
the left shoulder. The type is reminiscent of busts of Aesculapius; but it has been
suggested that this is a portrait of the emperor Julian wearing the veil of his office
as a priest. The top of the altar, above the cap, is a square block with two “horns”
carved on each face.
50. IR-RUSHEDEH.
On this site we have another ancient town that has served as a quarry for neigh-
bouring villages. Scarcely a fragment of dressed stone has been left by the spoilers.
The location is a fair one, upon a rocky tell rising from the midst of a fertile plain.
It is said that several of the inscriptions, now to be seen in the modern houses ot
nearby villages, came from this place.
51. UMM IR-RUMMAN (REMMONA)
This is a large village inhabited principally by Druses. There are two or three
ancient houses here that have been fitted up for habitation with few alterations. These
were built of smooth quadrated masonry without mouldings or other ornament in stone.
In front of the medafeh of the shekh are two small columns with capitals of late
Christian design. Near by are lying two Ionic capitals of the style commonly seen
in Bosra. There was undoubtedly a Classic building of small scale here, possibly a temple.
52. CANZ.
cAnz is a small village, part Druse and part Christian, built upon a hill on the
site of an ancient town. Below the village is a large pool (Ill. 109) the freshness of
which is maintained, through part of the year at least, by the waters of the Wadi il-
cAkib. There are a few ancient houses that have been made fit for habitation, and a
small church, almost intact, that serves for a stable and store-house. The village abounds
in inscriptions 1 most of which, according to the natives, have been brought from ruins
in the vicinity. The Christian inhabitants of the place are all well disposed towards
travellers, and are very helpful in pointing out inscriptions and antiquities.
Church : This is a long undivided building, spanned by three transverse arches
and having a square east end. (Ill. 110). The easternmost arch is narrower than the
others, and springs from higher imposts, and, being the chancel arch, is thus different-
iated from the others. The arches and the slabs of. the roof appear to be of the
original construction; but the interior is very dark because all the windows have been
stopped up. On the north side of the church there is a small court paved with slabs
of basalt regularly laid and smooth. Clerical or monastic buildings bound the court
on two sides; the fourth side was also probably originally closed by another building.
A narrow passage, roofed with slabs and terminating in arches at both ends, leads
from the court to the street, between the buildings. The church and the adjoining
buildings are built in exceptionally fine masonry, part highly finished and part smooth
1 Div. III, insc. 185—193.