DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45603#0066
Bakirha
199
East Church. Date, 546 A.D. The West Church with the group of buildings
about it, may have belonged to a monastic institution; but the East Church stood en-
tirely free at the end of the main street of the town, and was apparently a parish
church. A full description of this church, and a discussion of its date, will be found
on page 209 of the Publications of the American Expedition. It is my intention to
re-publish the plan and to add restorations and sections as a result of a more thorough
study of the remains. The plan (Ill. 204) is that of an oblong basilica of three aisles
in six bays, having a narthex at the west and a rectangular presbyterium between side
chambers at the east end. The whole of the west facade and the narthex are almost
Ill. 205. Bakirha; East Church, West Facade.
perfectly preserved (Ill. 205). The east wall, and the walls of the side chambers are
standing; but the chancel arch and all the arches of the nave arcades, together with
the side walls, have collapsed. But the material is all on hand for a complete resto-
ration ; the lintels of the doorways in the south wall, and the arcuated lintels of the
windows of both side aisles, lie in order, almost as if the walls had fallen flatly out-
ward. The only conjectural part of the restorations is the clearstory, where the number
of windows can be only surmised. The church, like all the rest of the town, was
built on a steep hillside; it was necessary to build a high substructure for the north
wall, and to excavate in the rock to secure a passage along the south wall so that
side entrances would be practicable; and one side of the open space in front of the
church was cut into the hill-side to secure a level place. The end walls of the narthex
were returned a short distance towards each other on either side, and the space be-
tween is occupied by four tall monolithic piers of square section. The central space
is wider than the others. The piers have caps that are moulded only in front; they
carry an ornamental architrave the mouldings of which were returned downward and
199
East Church. Date, 546 A.D. The West Church with the group of buildings
about it, may have belonged to a monastic institution; but the East Church stood en-
tirely free at the end of the main street of the town, and was apparently a parish
church. A full description of this church, and a discussion of its date, will be found
on page 209 of the Publications of the American Expedition. It is my intention to
re-publish the plan and to add restorations and sections as a result of a more thorough
study of the remains. The plan (Ill. 204) is that of an oblong basilica of three aisles
in six bays, having a narthex at the west and a rectangular presbyterium between side
chambers at the east end. The whole of the west facade and the narthex are almost
Ill. 205. Bakirha; East Church, West Facade.
perfectly preserved (Ill. 205). The east wall, and the walls of the side chambers are
standing; but the chancel arch and all the arches of the nave arcades, together with
the side walls, have collapsed. But the material is all on hand for a complete resto-
ration ; the lintels of the doorways in the south wall, and the arcuated lintels of the
windows of both side aisles, lie in order, almost as if the walls had fallen flatly out-
ward. The only conjectural part of the restorations is the clearstory, where the number
of windows can be only surmised. The church, like all the rest of the town, was
built on a steep hillside; it was necessary to build a high substructure for the north
wall, and to excavate in the rock to secure a passage along the south wall so that
side entrances would be practicable; and one side of the open space in front of the
church was cut into the hill-side to secure a level place. The end walls of the narthex
were returned a short distance towards each other on either side, and the space be-
tween is occupied by four tall monolithic piers of square section. The central space
is wider than the others. The piers have caps that are moulded only in front; they
carry an ornamental architrave the mouldings of which were returned downward and