DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45604#0012
Kasr il-Benat
217
the extant portions of the buildings and the careful observation and measurement of
the fallen details. The standing parts of the church are to be seen in the photo-
graphs (Ills. 219 and 221); the results of piecing these parts together with fallen details
are given in Ill. 222 and in Plate XX. The lower part of the west facade (Ill. 222)
is still standing, the restoration of the upper parts is not purely conjectural; for the
bases of the two colonettes are in place, the colonettes are lying in the ruins, and
the marks of the beds of the two pilaster piers and of the balustrade, or parapet, are
still to be seen on the upper faces of the stones which form the cornice of the lower
storey. The height of the clearstorey can be determined approximately. The gable
is of course conjectural, and is supplied by analogy with preserved gables of the same
date' in the locality. The longitudinal section (Sect. A—B in Ill. 222) has been restored,
for the most part, from a study of fallen details. The bases of the interior columns
Ill. 219. Kasr il-Benat. Convent. General View from the Southeast.
are in situ, the shafts and capitals of several columns lie unbroken in the ruins, so
that the height and span of the arches of the nave are determinable. There are also
a number of arcuated lintels from the windows of the clearstorey among the ruins,,
from which the height of the windows is to be found, since the proportions of the
opening below the arch are about constant. The height of the aisle walls is known,
and the position of the portals, but the number and placing of the aisle windows must
be conjectured from the number and position of the fallen arcuated lintels which may,
in many cases, be confused with those fallen from the clearstorey. The timbering of
the roof is of course entirely conjectural. The restoration of the east end, with its
apse, is simple and conclusive, but for. its gable. One view of it is shown in Section
A-B Ill. 222, and another in Plate XX. In the former the preserved portions are
217
the extant portions of the buildings and the careful observation and measurement of
the fallen details. The standing parts of the church are to be seen in the photo-
graphs (Ills. 219 and 221); the results of piecing these parts together with fallen details
are given in Ill. 222 and in Plate XX. The lower part of the west facade (Ill. 222)
is still standing, the restoration of the upper parts is not purely conjectural; for the
bases of the two colonettes are in place, the colonettes are lying in the ruins, and
the marks of the beds of the two pilaster piers and of the balustrade, or parapet, are
still to be seen on the upper faces of the stones which form the cornice of the lower
storey. The height of the clearstorey can be determined approximately. The gable
is of course conjectural, and is supplied by analogy with preserved gables of the same
date' in the locality. The longitudinal section (Sect. A—B in Ill. 222) has been restored,
for the most part, from a study of fallen details. The bases of the interior columns
Ill. 219. Kasr il-Benat. Convent. General View from the Southeast.
are in situ, the shafts and capitals of several columns lie unbroken in the ruins, so
that the height and span of the arches of the nave are determinable. There are also
a number of arcuated lintels from the windows of the clearstorey among the ruins,,
from which the height of the windows is to be found, since the proportions of the
opening below the arch are about constant. The height of the aisle walls is known,
and the position of the portals, but the number and placing of the aisle windows must
be conjectured from the number and position of the fallen arcuated lintels which may,
in many cases, be confused with those fallen from the clearstorey. The timbering of
the roof is of course entirely conjectural. The restoration of the east end, with its
apse, is simple and conclusive, but for. its gable. One view of it is shown in Section
A-B Ill. 222, and another in Plate XX. In the former the preserved portions are