DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45598#0047
Kerratin, (Tarutia}.
S3
at the ends of a row of girder arches, or built a low, narrow arch at both ends instead
of one only, the arch system would have been perfect. The salient buttress was un-
doubtedly used at times, as in the narthex of the church, where its utility must have
been understood; and the principle of placing a low arch at the end of an arcade of
high arches was practiced at the west end of many churches of the region, the thrust
of the opposite end being met by the structure of the apse; but these principles of
construction were apparently not always carried out in the arch system of the houses,
where the same conditions prevailed, but where the greater imposts of the piers seemed
to the builders to obviate the necessity of such expedients.
which has been inhabited' until comparatively recent times.
Abv-Haniyeh-Linted
Ill. 91.
design, are the plain,
the chancel arch of the little sanctuary. Among the fragments
of very poor ornamental details in the eastern part of the ruins
a lintel (Ill. 91) was found which presents a somewhat unusual
form for the basaltic region, yet it is quite suggestive of a style
of lintel decoration very common in the mountains to the west.
Its upper member is a facsia above a fillet, below this is a tall
cavetto adorned with upright leaves, then come a fillet and a
narrow bevel. The scheme came undoubtedly from the west,
but the leaves, instead of being of highly wrought acanthus
heavy water leaves so often seen in the basalt capitals.
small ruin
tower, substantially like that at Resm id-Dab (Ill. 76), is the only con-
Remains of a small chapel, with an apse about 4 m. wide,
This is a
A half ruined
spicuous monument here.
are to be seen on the west side of the ruins; but its state of dilapidation is such that
no plan could be traced without excavations. There is a dated lintel lying in the de-
bris, that was almost certainly the lintel of one of the portals of the chapel; it gives
the year 406-7 A.D., and is thus among the earlier inscriptions1 of the region. Some
voussoirs were found with letters upon them, indicating that an inscription2 adorned
32. ABU HANIYEH.
33. rojAz.
This extensive ruin stands on high ground in the midst of the gently rolling
country south of Kerratin. The site has in all probability never been completely deserted,
though the number of inhabitants is now very small, and their dwellings are crude in
the extreme. But there are signs of medieval occupation, and the surface conditions
of the place indicate a very long period of habitation. Most of the ancient walls are
buried in the soil that accumulates about Syrian villages, and the ground-story rooms
of certain ancient houses are now under ground, and are utilized as stables. The poor
modern constructions are full of ancient fragments of Christian architecture, and there
are many evidences that the town of the sixth century was large and well built; yet
there is but one building here that preserves even a semblance of its ancient form,
that is a small tower (Ill. 92) near the southeastern angle of the village. To the west
1 Div. Ill insc. 1003.
2 Ibid, insc. 1004.
S3
at the ends of a row of girder arches, or built a low, narrow arch at both ends instead
of one only, the arch system would have been perfect. The salient buttress was un-
doubtedly used at times, as in the narthex of the church, where its utility must have
been understood; and the principle of placing a low arch at the end of an arcade of
high arches was practiced at the west end of many churches of the region, the thrust
of the opposite end being met by the structure of the apse; but these principles of
construction were apparently not always carried out in the arch system of the houses,
where the same conditions prevailed, but where the greater imposts of the piers seemed
to the builders to obviate the necessity of such expedients.
which has been inhabited' until comparatively recent times.
Abv-Haniyeh-Linted
Ill. 91.
design, are the plain,
the chancel arch of the little sanctuary. Among the fragments
of very poor ornamental details in the eastern part of the ruins
a lintel (Ill. 91) was found which presents a somewhat unusual
form for the basaltic region, yet it is quite suggestive of a style
of lintel decoration very common in the mountains to the west.
Its upper member is a facsia above a fillet, below this is a tall
cavetto adorned with upright leaves, then come a fillet and a
narrow bevel. The scheme came undoubtedly from the west,
but the leaves, instead of being of highly wrought acanthus
heavy water leaves so often seen in the basalt capitals.
small ruin
tower, substantially like that at Resm id-Dab (Ill. 76), is the only con-
Remains of a small chapel, with an apse about 4 m. wide,
This is a
A half ruined
spicuous monument here.
are to be seen on the west side of the ruins; but its state of dilapidation is such that
no plan could be traced without excavations. There is a dated lintel lying in the de-
bris, that was almost certainly the lintel of one of the portals of the chapel; it gives
the year 406-7 A.D., and is thus among the earlier inscriptions1 of the region. Some
voussoirs were found with letters upon them, indicating that an inscription2 adorned
32. ABU HANIYEH.
33. rojAz.
This extensive ruin stands on high ground in the midst of the gently rolling
country south of Kerratin. The site has in all probability never been completely deserted,
though the number of inhabitants is now very small, and their dwellings are crude in
the extreme. But there are signs of medieval occupation, and the surface conditions
of the place indicate a very long period of habitation. Most of the ancient walls are
buried in the soil that accumulates about Syrian villages, and the ground-story rooms
of certain ancient houses are now under ground, and are utilized as stables. The poor
modern constructions are full of ancient fragments of Christian architecture, and there
are many evidences that the town of the sixth century was large and well built; yet
there is but one building here that preserves even a semblance of its ancient form,
that is a small tower (Ill. 92) near the southeastern angle of the village. To the west
1 Div. Ill insc. 1003.
2 Ibid, insc. 1004.