DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45582#0018
Umm idj-Djimal (Thantiad)
159
It also seems probable that these walls, old and new, were abandoned after the build-
ing of the barracks or fortress, and the introduction of a garrison, early in the fifth
century. The walls were once more preyed upon for building material for a century,
or a little more, until the garrison was withdrawn, and the barracks were converted
into a monastery. The walls then existing were repaired wherever necessary, and some
very crude walls were built to take the place of such sections as had been taken away
for building material during the period while the walls were deemed unnecessary.
Reservoir and Aqueduct.
The water supply of Umm idj-Djimal was well provided for. Needless to say, the
dry, sandy, and pebbly bottom of the wadi west of the city was, in ancient times, the
bed of a perennial stream. The dam above the city retained the water for distribution,
through the aqueduct, into the various reservoirs. There were no less than four reser-
voirs fed by the aqueduct, beside a number of independent birkehs, or cisterns, that
were replenished with rain water from the roofs of buildings. It is an open question
whether the reservoirs and cisterns were built of necessity, for the conservation of water
during an annual dry season; but it is certain that they were made for convenience;
for they are so planned that every group of residences had its supply of water near
at hand. The great reservoir, 40 m. by 30 m. square, is situated a little east of the
centre of the town. It was partly excavated in the solid rock, and, like all the other
reservoirs and cisterns, undoubtedly served as a quarry for building material while in
process of construction; for the entire city seems to be underlaid with a bed of basalt
rock from 3 to 4 metres below the surface. The photograph (Ill. 138) shows that
the bottom of the resevoir, and the lower parts of its side walls, are of the natural
basalt rock. The upper parts of the side walls were built in courses of draughted
masonry which is an indication that the reservoir was built in the third century or
earlier, and probably under military influence; for this kind of masonry was commonly
employed in military architecture during the period of strong Roman influence in Syria.
The walls were covered with thick water-tight cement, i. e. opus signinum^ and a
flight of steps led down to the bottom of the reservoir at its southwest angle. The
ground level at the top of the wall falls away on all sides to prevent the wash from
the city streets coming into the reservoir, and the top of the wall has a coping of
flat and well fitted slabs, two metres wide, further to insure cleanliness. The mound
of sand outside the southwest angle of the reservoir is undoubtedly the remains of
sediment taken from time to time from the bottom of the great reservoir. The branch
conduit leading to this reservoir from the main aqueduct was sunk just below the
surface; it was paved, had side walls, and was roofed with slabs. It was completely
hidden when we first visited Umm idj-Djimal in 1905; but an attempt to clean it out
and restore it had been made when I saw it in 1909. This work, as I was informed
by the Bedawin encamped here, had been undertaken, a few months before, by Druses
from the mountain, and the Arabs believe that these mountain people are about to
make an effort to settle in the deserted city; this would be possible only in case water
can be brought to the ruins; and, since the wadi which gave the city its original water
supply is now perennially dry, it will be necessary to cut an aqueduct from some point
in this nameless wadi to a point on the Wadi Butm a few miles to the north·, for
159
It also seems probable that these walls, old and new, were abandoned after the build-
ing of the barracks or fortress, and the introduction of a garrison, early in the fifth
century. The walls were once more preyed upon for building material for a century,
or a little more, until the garrison was withdrawn, and the barracks were converted
into a monastery. The walls then existing were repaired wherever necessary, and some
very crude walls were built to take the place of such sections as had been taken away
for building material during the period while the walls were deemed unnecessary.
Reservoir and Aqueduct.
The water supply of Umm idj-Djimal was well provided for. Needless to say, the
dry, sandy, and pebbly bottom of the wadi west of the city was, in ancient times, the
bed of a perennial stream. The dam above the city retained the water for distribution,
through the aqueduct, into the various reservoirs. There were no less than four reser-
voirs fed by the aqueduct, beside a number of independent birkehs, or cisterns, that
were replenished with rain water from the roofs of buildings. It is an open question
whether the reservoirs and cisterns were built of necessity, for the conservation of water
during an annual dry season; but it is certain that they were made for convenience;
for they are so planned that every group of residences had its supply of water near
at hand. The great reservoir, 40 m. by 30 m. square, is situated a little east of the
centre of the town. It was partly excavated in the solid rock, and, like all the other
reservoirs and cisterns, undoubtedly served as a quarry for building material while in
process of construction; for the entire city seems to be underlaid with a bed of basalt
rock from 3 to 4 metres below the surface. The photograph (Ill. 138) shows that
the bottom of the resevoir, and the lower parts of its side walls, are of the natural
basalt rock. The upper parts of the side walls were built in courses of draughted
masonry which is an indication that the reservoir was built in the third century or
earlier, and probably under military influence; for this kind of masonry was commonly
employed in military architecture during the period of strong Roman influence in Syria.
The walls were covered with thick water-tight cement, i. e. opus signinum^ and a
flight of steps led down to the bottom of the reservoir at its southwest angle. The
ground level at the top of the wall falls away on all sides to prevent the wash from
the city streets coming into the reservoir, and the top of the wall has a coping of
flat and well fitted slabs, two metres wide, further to insure cleanliness. The mound
of sand outside the southwest angle of the reservoir is undoubtedly the remains of
sediment taken from time to time from the bottom of the great reservoir. The branch
conduit leading to this reservoir from the main aqueduct was sunk just below the
surface; it was paved, had side walls, and was roofed with slabs. It was completely
hidden when we first visited Umm idj-Djimal in 1905; but an attempt to clean it out
and restore it had been made when I saw it in 1909. This work, as I was informed
by the Bedawin encamped here, had been undertaken, a few months before, by Druses
from the mountain, and the Arabs believe that these mountain people are about to
make an effort to settle in the deserted city; this would be possible only in case water
can be brought to the ruins; and, since the wadi which gave the city its original water
supply is now perennially dry, it will be necessary to cut an aqueduct from some point
in this nameless wadi to a point on the Wadi Butm a few miles to the north·, for