DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45605#0072
308
Division II Section B Part 5
except in regard“to“'the" details, for this section could not be restored in any other way
than as I have drawn it. The bases of the "columns are good examples of almost
Classical type, the shafts have great diminution, and the capitals are entirely new in
design. Each has two parts, the upper part consisting of a basket capital with per-
pendicular or twisted flutings, like some of those in the East Church at Babiska, the
lower part being a necking of upright uncarved water leaves. The caps of the apse
piers have simple profiles with one member carved with a late egg-and-dart. The two
conices (K) and (L) shown in Ill. 338, were not found in place; both are interesting
as perpetuating late types of the Classical bead-and-reel. The longitudinal section
(Ill. 339) is presented only to give one an idea of the spaciousness of the interior.
In this restoration the windows of the aisles and the height of the clearstorey with its
windows are conjectured. The little chapel opening out of the north side of the nave
is very interesting. The opening between it and the north aisle is a fine broad arch,
and is perfectly preserved (Ill. 335). The chapel itself is like a diminutive church.
It has an apse and side chambers, one with an arch, the other with a doorway, all
concealed by a flat east wall. Thist part of the chapel is preserved intact, little half
dome and all. The walls of the main part of the chapel are for the most part
destroyed, and it is not possible to know whether the nave was divided or not. It is
apparent that the chapel was added after the great church had been completed.
The date of the “Cathedral” must be within the last quarter of the fourth century,
or a little earlier. The proportions of the building and its general arrangement, such
as the absence of an arch for the prothesis, are fourth-century characteristics. Among
the details, the style of the caps of the apse piers appears only in one other example,
that is the church of Fafirtin which is dated 372 A. D., and capitals similar to those
at Brad have been found only in the East Church at Babiska, which dates between
390 and 401 A. D., but in these the necking is omitted. It seems more probable
that the smaller churches would be copied from the greater than zw versa. The
chapel was probably added in the fifth century. It was almost certainly not a bap-
tistery, since we have no example of such a building with sanctuary, prothesis and
diaconicon; but it may have been a memorial chapel, perhaps a burial chapel as well;
for a broken sarcophagus was found just beside it. The only inscription 1 found in
the “Cathedral” is one upon the keystone of the arch leading into the chapel, facing
the north aisle. This inscription bears no date and gives no information regarding the
purpose of the chapel.
North Church: Date: Sept. 561 A. D. This church, situated at the considerable
distance to the northeast of the “Cathedral”, belongs to the opposite end of the period
of Christian architectural history in Syria, and is of a rather different plan (Ill. 340).
It is much better preserved than the larger church, having the walls of the apse and
the prothesis, a greater part of the south wall, and two thirds of the interior arches
with a good part of the clearstory above them s'till intact (Ill. 341). The half dome
of the apse has fallen, and the outer walls of the diaconicon, the north aisle wall, and
the west wall are to be traced only on foundations. The general outlines of the
ground plan are those of the typical Syrian basilical church; but the nave, instead of
being divided by arcades of numerous narrow arches carried on slender coluiflns, is
Uirt u'i ddH
- 1 nr_ B g, insc. Iig2
Division II Section B Part 5
except in regard“to“'the" details, for this section could not be restored in any other way
than as I have drawn it. The bases of the "columns are good examples of almost
Classical type, the shafts have great diminution, and the capitals are entirely new in
design. Each has two parts, the upper part consisting of a basket capital with per-
pendicular or twisted flutings, like some of those in the East Church at Babiska, the
lower part being a necking of upright uncarved water leaves. The caps of the apse
piers have simple profiles with one member carved with a late egg-and-dart. The two
conices (K) and (L) shown in Ill. 338, were not found in place; both are interesting
as perpetuating late types of the Classical bead-and-reel. The longitudinal section
(Ill. 339) is presented only to give one an idea of the spaciousness of the interior.
In this restoration the windows of the aisles and the height of the clearstorey with its
windows are conjectured. The little chapel opening out of the north side of the nave
is very interesting. The opening between it and the north aisle is a fine broad arch,
and is perfectly preserved (Ill. 335). The chapel itself is like a diminutive church.
It has an apse and side chambers, one with an arch, the other with a doorway, all
concealed by a flat east wall. Thist part of the chapel is preserved intact, little half
dome and all. The walls of the main part of the chapel are for the most part
destroyed, and it is not possible to know whether the nave was divided or not. It is
apparent that the chapel was added after the great church had been completed.
The date of the “Cathedral” must be within the last quarter of the fourth century,
or a little earlier. The proportions of the building and its general arrangement, such
as the absence of an arch for the prothesis, are fourth-century characteristics. Among
the details, the style of the caps of the apse piers appears only in one other example,
that is the church of Fafirtin which is dated 372 A. D., and capitals similar to those
at Brad have been found only in the East Church at Babiska, which dates between
390 and 401 A. D., but in these the necking is omitted. It seems more probable
that the smaller churches would be copied from the greater than zw versa. The
chapel was probably added in the fifth century. It was almost certainly not a bap-
tistery, since we have no example of such a building with sanctuary, prothesis and
diaconicon; but it may have been a memorial chapel, perhaps a burial chapel as well;
for a broken sarcophagus was found just beside it. The only inscription 1 found in
the “Cathedral” is one upon the keystone of the arch leading into the chapel, facing
the north aisle. This inscription bears no date and gives no information regarding the
purpose of the chapel.
North Church: Date: Sept. 561 A. D. This church, situated at the considerable
distance to the northeast of the “Cathedral”, belongs to the opposite end of the period
of Christian architectural history in Syria, and is of a rather different plan (Ill. 340).
It is much better preserved than the larger church, having the walls of the apse and
the prothesis, a greater part of the south wall, and two thirds of the interior arches
with a good part of the clearstory above them s'till intact (Ill. 341). The half dome
of the apse has fallen, and the outer walls of the diaconicon, the north aisle wall, and
the west wall are to be traced only on foundations. The general outlines of the
ground plan are those of the typical Syrian basilical church; but the nave, instead of
being divided by arcades of numerous narrow arches carried on slender coluiflns, is
Uirt u'i ddH
- 1 nr_ B g, insc. Iig2