DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45584#0050
332
Division II Section A Part 5
south wall has fallen, and its ruins are strewn upon the slope on that side (Ill. 301).
The road which winds up the south slope ends at an opening in a stout wall of rather
crude construction, which formed an enclosure of irregular shape about the church and
one other building which together comprised the convent (Ill. 302). The plan of the
church is interesting. At the west end there is a small square narthex, spanned by a
transverse arch, between two smaller square chambers that were carried up like towers
on either side of an open loggia above the narthex. The nave was divided into three
aisles by two piers which supported a pair of arches on either side. These arches
have fallen; but one of the piers is still complete, and this is of such a height that
Ill. 301. il-Karis; Convent, View from the South.
there must have been an upper storey of arches to carry the supports for the stone
roof which was certainly all on one level. There are other indications, in the side
walls, to show that there was a gallery over both aisles. This is interesting because
a triforium gallery on the longitudinal system of arches is almost unknown in Syria.
The middle aisle terminates in a square sanctuary opening by an arch into an oblong
chamber at the end of the south aisle. A similar chamber on the other side opens
into the north aisle and has an outside doorway. The deeply recessed, narrow, windows
in this end of the church are interesting for their stone shutters which can still be
Division II Section A Part 5
south wall has fallen, and its ruins are strewn upon the slope on that side (Ill. 301).
The road which winds up the south slope ends at an opening in a stout wall of rather
crude construction, which formed an enclosure of irregular shape about the church and
one other building which together comprised the convent (Ill. 302). The plan of the
church is interesting. At the west end there is a small square narthex, spanned by a
transverse arch, between two smaller square chambers that were carried up like towers
on either side of an open loggia above the narthex. The nave was divided into three
aisles by two piers which supported a pair of arches on either side. These arches
have fallen; but one of the piers is still complete, and this is of such a height that
Ill. 301. il-Karis; Convent, View from the South.
there must have been an upper storey of arches to carry the supports for the stone
roof which was certainly all on one level. There are other indications, in the side
walls, to show that there was a gallery over both aisles. This is interesting because
a triforium gallery on the longitudinal system of arches is almost unknown in Syria.
The middle aisle terminates in a square sanctuary opening by an arch into an oblong
chamber at the end of the south aisle. A similar chamber on the other side opens
into the north aisle and has an outside doorway. The deeply recessed, narrow, windows
in this end of the church are interesting for their stone shutters which can still be