DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45584#0048
330
Division II Section A Part 5
front of the shrine of il-Khidr. It is quite probable that the base of the present
column, which is also of Nabataean character, belonged to the same column as the
capital, or to a similar column; but the greater part of the shaft has been omitted.
In any case both the capital and the base were parts of columns rather too small in
scale to have belonged to a large building like a temple, and it is more likely that
they were parts of a colonnade surrounding a temenos like the one at Sic. This capital
and base should be compared with similar details found at Hebran (Ill. 296) in the
temple precinct, which, without doubt, belonged to the colonnade of a walled temenos.
All other vestiges of a temple or a colonnaded enclosure have wholly disappeared in
the general breaking up of the ruins for the building of the present village.
93, 94. IL-MELLEH and DER MASSIK.
Not far from Hebran are these two deserted ruins which should be mentioned,
although they have little importance. The first, il-Melleh, stands on the summit of a
small conical hill. The place seems to have been a small and compactly built town
constructed of half-dressed blocks of basalt, with door-lintels and jambs of finished stone.
There are few other finished building stones. A Greek inscription containing a Nabataean
name was discovered here, which may give some notion of the antiquity of the place.
We were told at il-Kefr that several inscriptions had been carried thither from this place.
Der Massik is a larger ruin built in a style even poorer than that of il-Melleh.
There is a smaller proportion of dressed building stones, and no inscriptions were found.
This ruin, like so many others in this locality, has been pillaged for building purposes.
95. TJYLJN.
The ruins of this long deserted place are extensive, but have been preyed upon
in recent years for building-material until most of the finished stonework has been
broken up or carried away, the highly finished lintels and jambs having been torn out
of most of the houses. When seen from the west the ruins are quite imposing; for
large sections of the town-wall rise high and unbroken from the rock upon which the
town was built. Within the walls there are well preserved streets, more clearly marked
than is usual in these ancient towns of the Hauran. In several places the streets pass
beneath the houses which are carried upon arched constructions above them. A stream
passed through the ancient town falling toward the southwest. In the midst of its
course the water was deflected into an artificial conduit, and drawn to a mill just out-
side the town-wall.
Foundations of a large building in dressed stone were found near the centre ot
the town, but these were not sufficient to give an idea of the form or size of the
ancient structure. A lintel with Classic mouldings and a wreath, and other details
with good mouldings, found not far from the foundations just mentioned, may have
belonged to the same building. A large arched opening in the second storey seems
to have been a feature of the domestic architecture of this place: these opened out
from a shallow room which formed a sort of loggia above a courtyard or the street.
There are two buildings standing side by side which are of ecclesiastical character.
Both appear to have been rather crudely built; but this may be due to the fact
Division II Section A Part 5
front of the shrine of il-Khidr. It is quite probable that the base of the present
column, which is also of Nabataean character, belonged to the same column as the
capital, or to a similar column; but the greater part of the shaft has been omitted.
In any case both the capital and the base were parts of columns rather too small in
scale to have belonged to a large building like a temple, and it is more likely that
they were parts of a colonnade surrounding a temenos like the one at Sic. This capital
and base should be compared with similar details found at Hebran (Ill. 296) in the
temple precinct, which, without doubt, belonged to the colonnade of a walled temenos.
All other vestiges of a temple or a colonnaded enclosure have wholly disappeared in
the general breaking up of the ruins for the building of the present village.
93, 94. IL-MELLEH and DER MASSIK.
Not far from Hebran are these two deserted ruins which should be mentioned,
although they have little importance. The first, il-Melleh, stands on the summit of a
small conical hill. The place seems to have been a small and compactly built town
constructed of half-dressed blocks of basalt, with door-lintels and jambs of finished stone.
There are few other finished building stones. A Greek inscription containing a Nabataean
name was discovered here, which may give some notion of the antiquity of the place.
We were told at il-Kefr that several inscriptions had been carried thither from this place.
Der Massik is a larger ruin built in a style even poorer than that of il-Melleh.
There is a smaller proportion of dressed building stones, and no inscriptions were found.
This ruin, like so many others in this locality, has been pillaged for building purposes.
95. TJYLJN.
The ruins of this long deserted place are extensive, but have been preyed upon
in recent years for building-material until most of the finished stonework has been
broken up or carried away, the highly finished lintels and jambs having been torn out
of most of the houses. When seen from the west the ruins are quite imposing; for
large sections of the town-wall rise high and unbroken from the rock upon which the
town was built. Within the walls there are well preserved streets, more clearly marked
than is usual in these ancient towns of the Hauran. In several places the streets pass
beneath the houses which are carried upon arched constructions above them. A stream
passed through the ancient town falling toward the southwest. In the midst of its
course the water was deflected into an artificial conduit, and drawn to a mill just out-
side the town-wall.
Foundations of a large building in dressed stone were found near the centre ot
the town, but these were not sufficient to give an idea of the form or size of the
ancient structure. A lintel with Classic mouldings and a wreath, and other details
with good mouldings, found not far from the foundations just mentioned, may have
belonged to the same building. A large arched opening in the second storey seems
to have been a feature of the domestic architecture of this place: these opened out
from a shallow room which formed a sort of loggia above a courtyard or the street.
There are two buildings standing side by side which are of ecclesiastical character.
Both appear to have been rather crudely built; but this may be due to the fact