DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45594#0059
Kasr Ibn Wardan.
29
at the ruins in 1887, and in 1900, published some account of them. In 1889, Dr. Max
Freiherr von Oppenheim1 reached the place, and, in 1903, a number of the photographs
which he took of the church were published by Dr. Strzygowski2 in his Klein-Asien
ein Neuland der Kunstgeschichte. Again, in 1904, Dr. Strzygowski published two pho-
tographs of the palace, also taken by Dr. von Oppenheim, in his remarkable article
on Mschatta.3 But the lack of water during a greater part of the year, — the season
which most travellers choose for journeys in Syria — has hitherto prevented a detailed
study of the ruins. The Princeton Expedition was so fortunate as to reach Kasr Ibn
Wardan in the early spring, and to find water at no great distance from the ruins.
An examination of the three ruined buildings was made as exhaustive as was possible
without extensive excavations. The results of this examination are given herewith.
The Church. The three ruined buildings at Kasr Ibn Wardan stand at the
angles of a right-angled triangle (see map), the right-angle of which points to the
north east. The barracks stand at the eastern angle, and the church at the western, at
the end of the short side of the triangle; the palace stands at the right angle, east
of the church. These relative positions are incorrectly given in Dr. Strzygowski’s pu-
blications, owing to mistakes made by Hartmann and von Oppenheim. The church stands
near the western edge of the low plateau or terrace; it appears to be on slightly lower
ground than the other buildings; but this is owing to the greater accumulation of debris
about the palace and the barracks, and I believe the difference in the original levels
was very slight, if there was any at all. The church was a tall structure with a tri-
forium, and was surmounted by a dome about 20 m. high. Of the original structure
there are now standing, the walls of the lower story, (complete, except at the south-
west angle where they are standing to a height of two meters, but are buried in debris,)
the walls of the triforium story on the north and west sides, the arches of the triforium
on the north, the walls of the apse to the springing of the half dome, the great arch
that supported the north side of the dome, and, above this, half of the northeast
pendentive, with a section of the wall adjoining it on the west (Ill. 24). In 1899 the
half dome of the apse and part of the northwest pendentive were standing, as may
be seen by von Oppenheim’s photographs 4 which show also several sections of wall that
are wanting in my photographs. (Ill. 26, 27). From this it would appear that the
disintegration of the ruin had been very rapid during the space of five years.
Plan. The outline of the ground plan of the church (Ill. 25) is a rectangle
(15 m. X 18.50 m.) with a small stair-tower projecting northward from the northwest
angle. If this projection is included, the whole plan may be inscribed exactly within
a square. 5 The interior plan (Ill. 25 A), presents an oblong nave (6.66 m. > 10.46 m.)
terminating in a deep-set, semi-circular apse which is concealed on the exterior by a
flat east wall. An aisle is carried along both sides of the central space, and across
the west end. The side aisles open into the main body of the church through three
1 Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft fur Erdkzmde zti Berlin. XXXVI (1901) pp. 69—99.
2 K.-A. pp. 121 —182.
3 Jahrbuch der Konigl. Preusz. Kunstsammlungen. Band 25, iv, pp. 239—40.
4 A'.-X., Abb. 93, 94.
5 It is interesting to compare the very clever plan made from photographs by Mr. F. Toebelmann and published in
Klein-Asien. Abb. 92. A southern tower is given in this sketch; but I could find no evidence for this.
29
at the ruins in 1887, and in 1900, published some account of them. In 1889, Dr. Max
Freiherr von Oppenheim1 reached the place, and, in 1903, a number of the photographs
which he took of the church were published by Dr. Strzygowski2 in his Klein-Asien
ein Neuland der Kunstgeschichte. Again, in 1904, Dr. Strzygowski published two pho-
tographs of the palace, also taken by Dr. von Oppenheim, in his remarkable article
on Mschatta.3 But the lack of water during a greater part of the year, — the season
which most travellers choose for journeys in Syria — has hitherto prevented a detailed
study of the ruins. The Princeton Expedition was so fortunate as to reach Kasr Ibn
Wardan in the early spring, and to find water at no great distance from the ruins.
An examination of the three ruined buildings was made as exhaustive as was possible
without extensive excavations. The results of this examination are given herewith.
The Church. The three ruined buildings at Kasr Ibn Wardan stand at the
angles of a right-angled triangle (see map), the right-angle of which points to the
north east. The barracks stand at the eastern angle, and the church at the western, at
the end of the short side of the triangle; the palace stands at the right angle, east
of the church. These relative positions are incorrectly given in Dr. Strzygowski’s pu-
blications, owing to mistakes made by Hartmann and von Oppenheim. The church stands
near the western edge of the low plateau or terrace; it appears to be on slightly lower
ground than the other buildings; but this is owing to the greater accumulation of debris
about the palace and the barracks, and I believe the difference in the original levels
was very slight, if there was any at all. The church was a tall structure with a tri-
forium, and was surmounted by a dome about 20 m. high. Of the original structure
there are now standing, the walls of the lower story, (complete, except at the south-
west angle where they are standing to a height of two meters, but are buried in debris,)
the walls of the triforium story on the north and west sides, the arches of the triforium
on the north, the walls of the apse to the springing of the half dome, the great arch
that supported the north side of the dome, and, above this, half of the northeast
pendentive, with a section of the wall adjoining it on the west (Ill. 24). In 1899 the
half dome of the apse and part of the northwest pendentive were standing, as may
be seen by von Oppenheim’s photographs 4 which show also several sections of wall that
are wanting in my photographs. (Ill. 26, 27). From this it would appear that the
disintegration of the ruin had been very rapid during the space of five years.
Plan. The outline of the ground plan of the church (Ill. 25) is a rectangle
(15 m. X 18.50 m.) with a small stair-tower projecting northward from the northwest
angle. If this projection is included, the whole plan may be inscribed exactly within
a square. 5 The interior plan (Ill. 25 A), presents an oblong nave (6.66 m. > 10.46 m.)
terminating in a deep-set, semi-circular apse which is concealed on the exterior by a
flat east wall. An aisle is carried along both sides of the central space, and across
the west end. The side aisles open into the main body of the church through three
1 Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft fur Erdkzmde zti Berlin. XXXVI (1901) pp. 69—99.
2 K.-A. pp. 121 —182.
3 Jahrbuch der Konigl. Preusz. Kunstsammlungen. Band 25, iv, pp. 239—40.
4 A'.-X., Abb. 93, 94.
5 It is interesting to compare the very clever plan made from photographs by Mr. F. Toebelmann and published in
Klein-Asien. Abb. 92. A southern tower is given in this sketch; but I could find no evidence for this.