DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45601#0049
138
II. B. 3.
whole treatment of this half of the facade is in a style in strong contrast to the other;
even the crowning cornice presents a different profile; the spirit of it all is different,
carrying out principles of design, proportion, and decoration, that are well known in
monuments that can be dated by inscriptions of the sixth century. An inscription 1
was found on the portal of the later part of the house; but it gives no clue as to
the date.
Tower. Southeast of this house, on the opposite side of a shallow valley, is
a small tower of more than common interest. Its walls are preserved in three stories.
The lower story is a rectangular chamber 3.26 m. by 3.12m., spanned by a single
arch (Ill. 160); it has loop-hole windows in every side, but no doorway; it is ceiled
with slabs of stone 24 cm. thick, one slab being omitted to provide access to the
chamber from above. The second story has a doorway on the north side, a narrow
window in the west, and one in the south wall. Holes in the wall show that the ceiling
On the east wall, near the south end, is a large
semi-circular basin corbelled into the wall at a height
of 1.26 m. from the floor. The stone in which the basin
is carved is 5 3 cm. high, so that the top of the basin
was only about 40 cm. from the ceiling. The basin
has a hole at the bottom, near the wall, which connects
with a channel that is carried far out from the wall
like a water-spout. The form of the basin and its
outlet is such as would suggest a lavatory or urinal;
but its height from the floor renders either purpose
impossible. I am unable to suggest a use for this
detail. The uppermost story of the tower is now partly
ruined, so that it is not possible to discover the means
by which it was roofed. It is difficult to suggest a
purpose for a building of this description, The structures
that have been generally known as watch-towers through-
out Central Syria are always found with entrances on
the ground floor. Some of them have a sort of ma-
chicolated, or bowed, projection from the wall above
the entrance, through the bottom of which missiles
could be discharged3, others have latrinae corbelled
out from the walls; but this spout-like projection is
nor could it have served the purpose of a latrina.
The entrance in the upper story reminds one of ancient windmills; but there is no
evidence to show that windmills were employed at so early a date in Syria.
of this story was 2.20 m. high
KOKABA-
TOWER-
B
* C
Ill. 160.
not placed above an entrance,
48. DANA, {Sotilhern).
The village of Dana is a small settlement among the ruins of an ancient town of
larger extent than Serdjilla. The place seems to have been inhabited for a long time,
for centuries perhaps, and the buildings of the town itself have been wantonly destroyed
1 Div. Ill, insc. 1065.
2 Cf. S.C. Pl. 58.
II. B. 3.
whole treatment of this half of the facade is in a style in strong contrast to the other;
even the crowning cornice presents a different profile; the spirit of it all is different,
carrying out principles of design, proportion, and decoration, that are well known in
monuments that can be dated by inscriptions of the sixth century. An inscription 1
was found on the portal of the later part of the house; but it gives no clue as to
the date.
Tower. Southeast of this house, on the opposite side of a shallow valley, is
a small tower of more than common interest. Its walls are preserved in three stories.
The lower story is a rectangular chamber 3.26 m. by 3.12m., spanned by a single
arch (Ill. 160); it has loop-hole windows in every side, but no doorway; it is ceiled
with slabs of stone 24 cm. thick, one slab being omitted to provide access to the
chamber from above. The second story has a doorway on the north side, a narrow
window in the west, and one in the south wall. Holes in the wall show that the ceiling
On the east wall, near the south end, is a large
semi-circular basin corbelled into the wall at a height
of 1.26 m. from the floor. The stone in which the basin
is carved is 5 3 cm. high, so that the top of the basin
was only about 40 cm. from the ceiling. The basin
has a hole at the bottom, near the wall, which connects
with a channel that is carried far out from the wall
like a water-spout. The form of the basin and its
outlet is such as would suggest a lavatory or urinal;
but its height from the floor renders either purpose
impossible. I am unable to suggest a use for this
detail. The uppermost story of the tower is now partly
ruined, so that it is not possible to discover the means
by which it was roofed. It is difficult to suggest a
purpose for a building of this description, The structures
that have been generally known as watch-towers through-
out Central Syria are always found with entrances on
the ground floor. Some of them have a sort of ma-
chicolated, or bowed, projection from the wall above
the entrance, through the bottom of which missiles
could be discharged3, others have latrinae corbelled
out from the walls; but this spout-like projection is
nor could it have served the purpose of a latrina.
The entrance in the upper story reminds one of ancient windmills; but there is no
evidence to show that windmills were employed at so early a date in Syria.
of this story was 2.20 m. high
KOKABA-
TOWER-
B
* C
Ill. 160.
not placed above an entrance,
48. DANA, {Sotilhern).
The village of Dana is a small settlement among the ruins of an ancient town of
larger extent than Serdjilla. The place seems to have been inhabited for a long time,
for centuries perhaps, and the buildings of the town itself have been wantonly destroyed
1 Div. Ill, insc. 1065.
2 Cf. S.C. Pl. 58.