DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45594#0043
14
II. B. i. The cAla.
at the west, and two in either side wall; both of the chambers which flank the apse
were reached directly from the sanctuary by narrow doorways : the southern chamber,
probably the prothesis, opened upon the south aisle through an arch; the diaconicon
had a small doorway upon the north aisle, The atrium had colonnades on the north
side, along the church wall, also on the east, and probably on the west side. Its west
wall is completely hidden, but part oi the south wall is standing to a height of nearly
2 m. There was a large arch in this wall, near the east end, and a narrow arched
opening (Ill. 11 z) in the east wall, which is preserved to a height of more than a
meter. A deep cistern was found in the northeast angle of this court.
All of the ornament is of the type most characteristic of this locality, being exe-
cuted in very shallow relief carving and in incised lines. The decoration of the jambs
and lintel of the west portal (Ill. ii,G) consists of two bands of simple incised scroll
work, separated by a torus executed below the surface of the stone. The side portals
in. ii.
H
G
have only the two bands of incised ornament (H) one of which is an interlace, so
executed as to give the effect, at a short distance, of being in relief. Four, at least,
of the lintels had inscriptions carved upon them, in letters in relief. One of these
gives the date1 598 A.D.
The atrium, and the modern houses near it, are full of capitals, shafts and bases
of the columns of the colonnade. These columns were small, having a diameter of
only 32 cm. Their capitals were of different designs, as shown in Ill. 11, B. C. D.,
all simple, but well executed in the basalt; the relief is very flat, and the minor details
of ornament are only incised. The bases (F) were raised upon pedestals, each of which
was cut out of the same stone with the base. Several of the shafts have candle-sticks (E)
of simple form, carved in relief upon them. These were probably the shafts of the
1 Div. Ill, Insc. 838.
II. B. i. The cAla.
at the west, and two in either side wall; both of the chambers which flank the apse
were reached directly from the sanctuary by narrow doorways : the southern chamber,
probably the prothesis, opened upon the south aisle through an arch; the diaconicon
had a small doorway upon the north aisle, The atrium had colonnades on the north
side, along the church wall, also on the east, and probably on the west side. Its west
wall is completely hidden, but part oi the south wall is standing to a height of nearly
2 m. There was a large arch in this wall, near the east end, and a narrow arched
opening (Ill. 11 z) in the east wall, which is preserved to a height of more than a
meter. A deep cistern was found in the northeast angle of this court.
All of the ornament is of the type most characteristic of this locality, being exe-
cuted in very shallow relief carving and in incised lines. The decoration of the jambs
and lintel of the west portal (Ill. ii,G) consists of two bands of simple incised scroll
work, separated by a torus executed below the surface of the stone. The side portals
in. ii.
H
G
have only the two bands of incised ornament (H) one of which is an interlace, so
executed as to give the effect, at a short distance, of being in relief. Four, at least,
of the lintels had inscriptions carved upon them, in letters in relief. One of these
gives the date1 598 A.D.
The atrium, and the modern houses near it, are full of capitals, shafts and bases
of the columns of the colonnade. These columns were small, having a diameter of
only 32 cm. Their capitals were of different designs, as shown in Ill. 11, B. C. D.,
all simple, but well executed in the basalt; the relief is very flat, and the minor details
of ornament are only incised. The bases (F) were raised upon pedestals, each of which
was cut out of the same stone with the base. Several of the shafts have candle-sticks (E)
of simple form, carved in relief upon them. These were probably the shafts of the
1 Div. Ill, Insc. 838.