DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45605#0046
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Division II Section B Part 6
The restoration of the church is not difficult. There were two doorways in the
north wall and small windows with rounded tops, but their exact position in the wall
could not be determined. The windows of the clearstorey were rectangular as is shown
by lintels lying in the nave, but the height of the clearstorey wall must be conjectured.
The finish of the cut stone throughout the building is of the highest quality, as may
be observed by examining the faces of the arches of the farther arcade, shown in
Ill. 312, where the joints of the stonework are scarcely visible. This work was in
strong contrast with the main body of the wall structure which was exceedingly poor
and rough. Very little carved ornament of any kind appears in this church. The
capitals of the columns of the nave arcades are a simple variety of Doric, with thin
abacus, straight echinus, plain necking, and a simply moulded cincture. The bases are
of plain torus form, and are elevated on high plinth blocks. The faces of all the arches,
large and small, are plain but highly finished and were probably painted. The lintels
of the two south portals, which are still standing upon jambs that were built up in
courses, are decorated with the simplest doorcaps of characteristic Syrian form. The
more westerly had two bands in relief under a moulding which has been broken away,
and a brief undated inscription below the bands. The other lintel has a single broad
band or plate in relief under a moulding of rather elaborate profile. This lintel also
bears three crosses in relief (Ill. 312). All the details of this church, both constructional
and decorative, point to an early date; especially when studied in comparison with the
details of other churches in the vicinity. The combination of highly finished cut stone
with rubble masonry, the use of rectangular windows in the clearstorey, and the sim-
plicity of the ornament, all suggest a date not far from the middle of the fourth century.
The doorc.aps above the south portals are quite similar to corresponding details in the
private and funeral architecture of Northern Syria which bear dates between the years
340 and 352.
East Church : The smaller basilica of Burdj Hedar is somewhat less interesting,
and is manifestly later. Little of its structure is standing (Ill. 313) excepting the chancel
arch, the arch of the prothesis, the lower half of the walls of the side chambers, and
the west wall. The ground plan (111. 314) is typical. The nave is broad in proportion
to its length, and had five bays. The apse is not only of horse-shoe form in plan,
but presents a chancel arch of the same shape, as the photograph plainly shows (Ill. 313).
Both side chambers were connected with the sanctuary. An unsymmetrical court preceded
the west wall. This court had a tower built out from its southwest angle. It was
entered through three rectangular openings separated by piers, had porticos of piers on
its north and east sides, and an interior porch of two columns on the south. A building
of two rooms of equal size and apparently only one storey high closed the north side
of this court or atrium, the south portico had only a back wall; but the projections of
the two outer walls were about equal. The ornament is strangely placed; for though
the chancel arch is plain, save for a disc in relief upon its keystone, the arch of the
prothesis is richly moulded and cusped. The mouldings of the doorcap of the diaconicon,
those of the apse piers and the nave responds which are on one level, and those of
the piers of the prothesis indicate sixth century models.
Chapel : This little building is one of the most attractive in the Djebel Sinfan,
both on account of the extraordinary state of preservation in which it has survived,
and the unusual features which it contains. The plan (Ill. 315) is oblong and undivided.
Division II Section B Part 6
The restoration of the church is not difficult. There were two doorways in the
north wall and small windows with rounded tops, but their exact position in the wall
could not be determined. The windows of the clearstorey were rectangular as is shown
by lintels lying in the nave, but the height of the clearstorey wall must be conjectured.
The finish of the cut stone throughout the building is of the highest quality, as may
be observed by examining the faces of the arches of the farther arcade, shown in
Ill. 312, where the joints of the stonework are scarcely visible. This work was in
strong contrast with the main body of the wall structure which was exceedingly poor
and rough. Very little carved ornament of any kind appears in this church. The
capitals of the columns of the nave arcades are a simple variety of Doric, with thin
abacus, straight echinus, plain necking, and a simply moulded cincture. The bases are
of plain torus form, and are elevated on high plinth blocks. The faces of all the arches,
large and small, are plain but highly finished and were probably painted. The lintels
of the two south portals, which are still standing upon jambs that were built up in
courses, are decorated with the simplest doorcaps of characteristic Syrian form. The
more westerly had two bands in relief under a moulding which has been broken away,
and a brief undated inscription below the bands. The other lintel has a single broad
band or plate in relief under a moulding of rather elaborate profile. This lintel also
bears three crosses in relief (Ill. 312). All the details of this church, both constructional
and decorative, point to an early date; especially when studied in comparison with the
details of other churches in the vicinity. The combination of highly finished cut stone
with rubble masonry, the use of rectangular windows in the clearstorey, and the sim-
plicity of the ornament, all suggest a date not far from the middle of the fourth century.
The doorc.aps above the south portals are quite similar to corresponding details in the
private and funeral architecture of Northern Syria which bear dates between the years
340 and 352.
East Church : The smaller basilica of Burdj Hedar is somewhat less interesting,
and is manifestly later. Little of its structure is standing (Ill. 313) excepting the chancel
arch, the arch of the prothesis, the lower half of the walls of the side chambers, and
the west wall. The ground plan (111. 314) is typical. The nave is broad in proportion
to its length, and had five bays. The apse is not only of horse-shoe form in plan,
but presents a chancel arch of the same shape, as the photograph plainly shows (Ill. 313).
Both side chambers were connected with the sanctuary. An unsymmetrical court preceded
the west wall. This court had a tower built out from its southwest angle. It was
entered through three rectangular openings separated by piers, had porticos of piers on
its north and east sides, and an interior porch of two columns on the south. A building
of two rooms of equal size and apparently only one storey high closed the north side
of this court or atrium, the south portico had only a back wall; but the projections of
the two outer walls were about equal. The ornament is strangely placed; for though
the chancel arch is plain, save for a disc in relief upon its keystone, the arch of the
prothesis is richly moulded and cusped. The mouldings of the doorcap of the diaconicon,
those of the apse piers and the nave responds which are on one level, and those of
the piers of the prothesis indicate sixth century models.
Chapel : This little building is one of the most attractive in the Djebel Sinfan,
both on account of the extraordinary state of preservation in which it has survived,
and the unusual features which it contains. The plan (Ill. 315) is oblong and undivided.