DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45586#0027
3θ4
Division II Section A Part 6
The frieze (D) consists of three bands of ornament below a flat ovolo and a fascia,
the lowest band is narrow, and bears carving like a small bay leaf, the next is also
narrow, and has a running vine with heart-shaped leaves and six-petalled flowers, the broad
band is carved with a rinceau in which the stalks are not unlike acanthus, but in
which the grape-leaf and grapes, pomegranates, figs, birds, and various nondescript
small flowers appear. The ornament of this frieze is returned for 15 cm. at both ends.
The frieze itself is in three pieces which seem to fit together: their combined length is
a little greater than the width of the opening of the gate-way. I have placed it
directly above the lintel (Ills. 329 and 332). It will be observed that voussoirs on
either hand complete the length of the lintel, and that the outermost band of the vous-
soirs corresponds to the same feature in the lintel. The voussoirs found upon the steps
outside the gate belonged to an arch with a diameter of 3.10 m.; they are ornamented
in six different ways (Ill. 330 E. to J.), though the mouldings are alike in all, con-
sisting of a fascia at the top, a bevelled face, a flat torus carved with scales, another
bevelled face, and a broad band with various ornaments. The keystone (Frag. G.) bears
a bust in high relief with head radiate, and breast draped with a garment held at the
shoulders by two round buckles; this can be nothing else than a bust of Bacal Shamin,
the Lord of Heaven, with the sun-rays about his head. Then there are two very
narrow voussoirs (Frag. J.) with eight-pointed stars, three large voussoirs with a pome-
granate design, three with a large nondescript flower, two with grapes, and two with
pine-cones, all in running patterns. The scale-pattern on the torus of each voussoir
tells us to which half of the arch the stone belonged. These stones may have been
placed indiscriminately, so that the fruits would be scattered through the design, as in
the frieze; but I have placed each of the four sorts in a group by itself, and have
used the keystone and the two narrow voussoirs with the stars to separate the groups.
Over the arch I have placed the raking cornice, the angle and details of which are
given in Frag. K. In the large semicircle left open in the cast (Ill. 332) were the
relief sculptures on thin blocks which I mentioned above. These I have indicated as
in place in the drawing of the restoration (Ill. 329). There are three principal blocks
which show the remains of sculpture in high relief, but from which all the details have
been broken off. Two bore horses facing in opposite directions, the third bore the
figure of a man in larger scale than the horses. One of the above blocks shows plainly
the outlines of a horse, and these I have indicated in my drawing. The head of this
horse was found, and is shown in a photograph (Ill. 334, Frag. L.). The horse was
saddled, and the stone next above that bearing the horse bore the body of the rider.
A peg in the body of the rider fitted into a socket in the saddle. Immediately behind
the saddle is a short Greek inscription1 which, being translated, reads “Kreiton Trum-
peter”. Among the fragments of details broken off from the relief is a face (Ill. 334,
Frag. N.) which shows that some object has been broken away from the lips. This
I believe to have been the face of the trumpeter with the end of his trumpet in his
mouth. Fragment M. (Ill. 334) is another face, now affixed, like Frag. N., to a plaster
back ground. Both are in the same scale, although this is not apparent in the photo-
graphs. This face (M.) may have belonged to the other rider, or perhaps to a standing
figure between one of the horses and the large statue in the middle if there were room
for one or two such figures. It must be that the almost life-size head (Frag. O.)
1 III insc. 772.
Division II Section A Part 6
The frieze (D) consists of three bands of ornament below a flat ovolo and a fascia,
the lowest band is narrow, and bears carving like a small bay leaf, the next is also
narrow, and has a running vine with heart-shaped leaves and six-petalled flowers, the broad
band is carved with a rinceau in which the stalks are not unlike acanthus, but in
which the grape-leaf and grapes, pomegranates, figs, birds, and various nondescript
small flowers appear. The ornament of this frieze is returned for 15 cm. at both ends.
The frieze itself is in three pieces which seem to fit together: their combined length is
a little greater than the width of the opening of the gate-way. I have placed it
directly above the lintel (Ills. 329 and 332). It will be observed that voussoirs on
either hand complete the length of the lintel, and that the outermost band of the vous-
soirs corresponds to the same feature in the lintel. The voussoirs found upon the steps
outside the gate belonged to an arch with a diameter of 3.10 m.; they are ornamented
in six different ways (Ill. 330 E. to J.), though the mouldings are alike in all, con-
sisting of a fascia at the top, a bevelled face, a flat torus carved with scales, another
bevelled face, and a broad band with various ornaments. The keystone (Frag. G.) bears
a bust in high relief with head radiate, and breast draped with a garment held at the
shoulders by two round buckles; this can be nothing else than a bust of Bacal Shamin,
the Lord of Heaven, with the sun-rays about his head. Then there are two very
narrow voussoirs (Frag. J.) with eight-pointed stars, three large voussoirs with a pome-
granate design, three with a large nondescript flower, two with grapes, and two with
pine-cones, all in running patterns. The scale-pattern on the torus of each voussoir
tells us to which half of the arch the stone belonged. These stones may have been
placed indiscriminately, so that the fruits would be scattered through the design, as in
the frieze; but I have placed each of the four sorts in a group by itself, and have
used the keystone and the two narrow voussoirs with the stars to separate the groups.
Over the arch I have placed the raking cornice, the angle and details of which are
given in Frag. K. In the large semicircle left open in the cast (Ill. 332) were the
relief sculptures on thin blocks which I mentioned above. These I have indicated as
in place in the drawing of the restoration (Ill. 329). There are three principal blocks
which show the remains of sculpture in high relief, but from which all the details have
been broken off. Two bore horses facing in opposite directions, the third bore the
figure of a man in larger scale than the horses. One of the above blocks shows plainly
the outlines of a horse, and these I have indicated in my drawing. The head of this
horse was found, and is shown in a photograph (Ill. 334, Frag. L.). The horse was
saddled, and the stone next above that bearing the horse bore the body of the rider.
A peg in the body of the rider fitted into a socket in the saddle. Immediately behind
the saddle is a short Greek inscription1 which, being translated, reads “Kreiton Trum-
peter”. Among the fragments of details broken off from the relief is a face (Ill. 334,
Frag. N.) which shows that some object has been broken away from the lips. This
I believe to have been the face of the trumpeter with the end of his trumpet in his
mouth. Fragment M. (Ill. 334) is another face, now affixed, like Frag. N., to a plaster
back ground. Both are in the same scale, although this is not apparent in the photo-
graphs. This face (M.) may have belonged to the other rider, or perhaps to a standing
figure between one of the horses and the large statue in the middle if there were room
for one or two such figures. It must be that the almost life-size head (Frag. O.)
1 III insc. 772.