DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45598#0026
Stabl 'Antar.
63
among the earlier buildings of the city. The parts which remain are of limestone, and
the fragments of mouldings that are found upon the surface are of Roman profiles.
The ruin abounds in columns. The northern part of the building (Ill. 62) would seem
to have been a sort of hypostyle hall, if the present position of the fallen or half
buried columns shows their original arrangement; for there are several rows of column
drums protruding only a few inches above the soil. The large vestibule on the north
is entirely in keeping with structures of similar purpose in all parts of Syria.
Reservoir. South of the city (see map of il-Anderin), well outside of the walls,
in. 63.
is a large reservoir of a form quite unknown in this part of Syria. It is 61 m. square,
and its angles are set towards the cardinal points. It was built wholly of limestone in
large quadrated blocks, and shows a lew mouldings that are Roman in profile. The
present depth is a little over 5 m. but its original depth must have been at least 7 m.
The sides are divided into seven sections each, by pilaster buttresses which project
45 cm.; in the middle of each section is a niche 1.50 m. wide (Ill. 63). An over-
hanging cornice is carried above the niches from pilaster to pilaster. The upper side
of the cornice forms a broad walk about the reservoir, and outside of this is a coping
of well finished quadrated blocks which served, in ancient times, to prevent the surface
water from flowing into the reservoir.
21. STABL CANTAR.
“cAntar’s Stable” is the Arab’s name for the ruin of a late Roman fortification,
with the remains of a crude village near it, on the summit of a high ridge north of
west from il-Anderin. On the day when this journey was made Mr. Norris, our
surveyor, was very ill, and the proper taking of bearings was omitted. I believe that
this site has been placed a little too far north on the map (see Map of the cAla,
Anderin and Kerratin); the distance is about correct. This, I may say, is the only
correction I would make upon the map. From this point there is a magnificent view
of the surrounding country, of the hills far to the west, the rolling country to the north, the
level desert stretching toward the east and of the tells and ruins of the cAla to the south.
Fortress. 557—8 a.d. This ancient fort covers an area of 75 m. x 80 m. (Pl. IX).
It had four square angle-towers, two towers flanking the entrance in the middle of
Publications of the Princeton University Archaeological Expedition to Syria, Div. II, Sec. B., Pt. 2. 9
63
among the earlier buildings of the city. The parts which remain are of limestone, and
the fragments of mouldings that are found upon the surface are of Roman profiles.
The ruin abounds in columns. The northern part of the building (Ill. 62) would seem
to have been a sort of hypostyle hall, if the present position of the fallen or half
buried columns shows their original arrangement; for there are several rows of column
drums protruding only a few inches above the soil. The large vestibule on the north
is entirely in keeping with structures of similar purpose in all parts of Syria.
Reservoir. South of the city (see map of il-Anderin), well outside of the walls,
in. 63.
is a large reservoir of a form quite unknown in this part of Syria. It is 61 m. square,
and its angles are set towards the cardinal points. It was built wholly of limestone in
large quadrated blocks, and shows a lew mouldings that are Roman in profile. The
present depth is a little over 5 m. but its original depth must have been at least 7 m.
The sides are divided into seven sections each, by pilaster buttresses which project
45 cm.; in the middle of each section is a niche 1.50 m. wide (Ill. 63). An over-
hanging cornice is carried above the niches from pilaster to pilaster. The upper side
of the cornice forms a broad walk about the reservoir, and outside of this is a coping
of well finished quadrated blocks which served, in ancient times, to prevent the surface
water from flowing into the reservoir.
21. STABL CANTAR.
“cAntar’s Stable” is the Arab’s name for the ruin of a late Roman fortification,
with the remains of a crude village near it, on the summit of a high ridge north of
west from il-Anderin. On the day when this journey was made Mr. Norris, our
surveyor, was very ill, and the proper taking of bearings was omitted. I believe that
this site has been placed a little too far north on the map (see Map of the cAla,
Anderin and Kerratin); the distance is about correct. This, I may say, is the only
correction I would make upon the map. From this point there is a magnificent view
of the surrounding country, of the hills far to the west, the rolling country to the north, the
level desert stretching toward the east and of the tells and ruins of the cAla to the south.
Fortress. 557—8 a.d. This ancient fort covers an area of 75 m. x 80 m. (Pl. IX).
It had four square angle-towers, two towers flanking the entrance in the middle of
Publications of the Princeton University Archaeological Expedition to Syria, Div. II, Sec. B., Pt. 2. 9