DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45605#0052
294
Division II Section B Part 6
Yakut,1 2 writing in the thirteenth century, claimed great antiquity as well as the distinction
of having been mentioned in the Pentateuch. Although it is not probable that this
place is to be identified with Nebo of Numbers XXXII. 3, or Ezra II. 29, it is un-
mistakably a very ancient site, and here was the shrine of a divinity imported into
Syria from Assyria as early as the ninth century before Christ.3 The most ancient
remains visible to-day are fragments of a temple, probably of the Roman period, which
were built into the walls of an early church. There is also an inscription, dated
A. D. 224, carved upon a lintel which came from the doorway of an oil-press belonging
to the temple. There are moreover extensive ruins of buildings in the earlier and
later kinds of polygonal masonry; one of the latter being dated by an inscription on
a carved lintel with the date 308 A. D., (Ill. 322). The church, situated upon the
highest point of the plateau, and probably occupying the site of the Pagan temple,
was one of the larger church edifices of the region, but is now almost level with the
ground. A small undivided chapel with an apse, and having a Syriac inscription dated
A. D. 525 upon its portal, is so well preserved that it has been roofed and provided
with doors to make a residence for a certain Jew of Aleppo who controls the property
around the ruins, and makes occasional visits here. There are many ancient private
dwellings one of which is dated in the middle of the fifth century, and a large building
which I have designated as an inn. This is dated A. D. 504/5. There is no village,
properly speaking, on the site; but a number of Kurdish families seem to be more or
less permanently encamped among the ruins. The place has been visited by two or
three explorers in quest of the unique oil-press inscription, and by Miss Bell3 who was
the latest visitor to make mention of the place.
Church: We may begin with the church, not because it is the oldest of the
buildings here; but because of the fact that it contains fragments which are definitely
known to be not later than the second century of our era. It is well placed, upon a
high level spot; but the only details of its structure that are standing over two metres
above the foundations are the jambs of the two south portals and a single column of
one of the arcades of the nave. It appears that the walls of the side aisles, the west
front, and the clearstorey, all were constructed of small rubble laid in clay, and have
disintegrated completely, and the only traces of the building are the remains of those
parts which were built of quadrated blocks. These include the doorways, the interior
arcades, and the greater part of the apse and side chambers. Two of the doorways
are in place, the columns and arches of the arcades lie where they fell; but it seems
that some of the blocks which composed the east end with its apse and side chapels
have been removed; for there is no great quantity of fallen building material there,
and the lower courses of these features are plainly visible. With the aid of these
lower courses, and the foundation courses of the nave, and with the bases of the
interior columns still in place, it was possible easily to draw a ground plan (Ill. 323)
of the church, and, from the single standing column, to restore the nave arcades.
The plan is of the usual type, with a nave of seven bays, 23.50 m. long and 16 m.
wide. The lower two courses of the apse are built of column drums, 1.10 m. to 1.13 m.
in diameter, split vertically, carefully finished, and set on end. These of course had
belonged to some earlier building of large scale, and probably to the temple of Seimios,
1 cf. G. le Strange Palestine under the Moslems-^ p. 470.
2 cf. III, B. 6, commentary on inscr. 1170. 3 Syria. The Desert and the Sown. p. 288.
Division II Section B Part 6
Yakut,1 2 writing in the thirteenth century, claimed great antiquity as well as the distinction
of having been mentioned in the Pentateuch. Although it is not probable that this
place is to be identified with Nebo of Numbers XXXII. 3, or Ezra II. 29, it is un-
mistakably a very ancient site, and here was the shrine of a divinity imported into
Syria from Assyria as early as the ninth century before Christ.3 The most ancient
remains visible to-day are fragments of a temple, probably of the Roman period, which
were built into the walls of an early church. There is also an inscription, dated
A. D. 224, carved upon a lintel which came from the doorway of an oil-press belonging
to the temple. There are moreover extensive ruins of buildings in the earlier and
later kinds of polygonal masonry; one of the latter being dated by an inscription on
a carved lintel with the date 308 A. D., (Ill. 322). The church, situated upon the
highest point of the plateau, and probably occupying the site of the Pagan temple,
was one of the larger church edifices of the region, but is now almost level with the
ground. A small undivided chapel with an apse, and having a Syriac inscription dated
A. D. 525 upon its portal, is so well preserved that it has been roofed and provided
with doors to make a residence for a certain Jew of Aleppo who controls the property
around the ruins, and makes occasional visits here. There are many ancient private
dwellings one of which is dated in the middle of the fifth century, and a large building
which I have designated as an inn. This is dated A. D. 504/5. There is no village,
properly speaking, on the site; but a number of Kurdish families seem to be more or
less permanently encamped among the ruins. The place has been visited by two or
three explorers in quest of the unique oil-press inscription, and by Miss Bell3 who was
the latest visitor to make mention of the place.
Church: We may begin with the church, not because it is the oldest of the
buildings here; but because of the fact that it contains fragments which are definitely
known to be not later than the second century of our era. It is well placed, upon a
high level spot; but the only details of its structure that are standing over two metres
above the foundations are the jambs of the two south portals and a single column of
one of the arcades of the nave. It appears that the walls of the side aisles, the west
front, and the clearstorey, all were constructed of small rubble laid in clay, and have
disintegrated completely, and the only traces of the building are the remains of those
parts which were built of quadrated blocks. These include the doorways, the interior
arcades, and the greater part of the apse and side chambers. Two of the doorways
are in place, the columns and arches of the arcades lie where they fell; but it seems
that some of the blocks which composed the east end with its apse and side chapels
have been removed; for there is no great quantity of fallen building material there,
and the lower courses of these features are plainly visible. With the aid of these
lower courses, and the foundation courses of the nave, and with the bases of the
interior columns still in place, it was possible easily to draw a ground plan (Ill. 323)
of the church, and, from the single standing column, to restore the nave arcades.
The plan is of the usual type, with a nave of seven bays, 23.50 m. long and 16 m.
wide. The lower two courses of the apse are built of column drums, 1.10 m. to 1.13 m.
in diameter, split vertically, carefully finished, and set on end. These of course had
belonged to some earlier building of large scale, and probably to the temple of Seimios,
1 cf. G. le Strange Palestine under the Moslems-^ p. 470.
2 cf. III, B. 6, commentary on inscr. 1170. 3 Syria. The Desert and the Sown. p. 288.