DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45605#0076
Brad \Barade)
divided by three broad arches on each side carried on massive rectangular piers. This
arrangement is not common in the churches of Northern Syria, occurring only at Kalb
Lauzeh,1 Ruweha,3 Djuwaniyeh,3 Bettir,4 Bashmishli,5 and Fidreh 6 though it is not unusual
in the eastern basalt district, and in Southern Syria. This disposition of the interior
supports alters all of the interior proportions of the nave; the apse arch appears lower
in proportion to the high nave arches, the side walls are higher, and the clearstorey
more elevated. In the present case it resulted in a wall above the chancel arch almost
as high as the clearstorey, and in this I have placed three windows (Ill. 340, Sect. A-B).
The side chambers are two storeys high and, together with the half dome of the apse,
were covered by a lean-to roof at right angles to the main axis. Both prothesis and
diaconicon open upon the aisles by doorways. The diaconicon, on the north, connects
directly with the apse, the prothesis has a doorway opening out to the south. This
doorway is on a slightly lower level than the doorways in the side aisle. Its lintel
Ill. 343-
bears an inscription7 which gives the date 561 A. D. The ornament of this church
is worthy of special note. The mouldings and the doorcaps of the south aisle portals
are well executed in high relief; above the easternmost portal are incised discs of rich
patterns. The exterior cornices are of unusually fine profile and proportions, and the
interior string course of the clearstorey is a rich relief moulding. All the window
mouldings are incised, those of the aisle windows being only frame mouldings, while
those of the clearstorey are carried in wide swinging curves from window to window
and terminated in scrolls at the ends. A slender colonette separates the two windows
of the apse.
Southwest Church : This is one of the largest church structures with an undivided
nave. Considerable portions of its south and west walls are preserved (Ill. 342), the
north wall and the east end are more or less ruinous. It has a square sanctuary
between narrow side chambers (Ill. 343). It had bicolumnar porches outside its larger
north doorway and its western portal, and a long colonnade along its south side where
1 A. A. E. S. II, p. 221. 2 Ibid. 226.
5 Ibid. 231. 6 n, B, 5, p. 252.
3 Ibid. 229. 4 Ibid. 230.
‘ III, B. 6, inscr. 1178.
divided by three broad arches on each side carried on massive rectangular piers. This
arrangement is not common in the churches of Northern Syria, occurring only at Kalb
Lauzeh,1 Ruweha,3 Djuwaniyeh,3 Bettir,4 Bashmishli,5 and Fidreh 6 though it is not unusual
in the eastern basalt district, and in Southern Syria. This disposition of the interior
supports alters all of the interior proportions of the nave; the apse arch appears lower
in proportion to the high nave arches, the side walls are higher, and the clearstorey
more elevated. In the present case it resulted in a wall above the chancel arch almost
as high as the clearstorey, and in this I have placed three windows (Ill. 340, Sect. A-B).
The side chambers are two storeys high and, together with the half dome of the apse,
were covered by a lean-to roof at right angles to the main axis. Both prothesis and
diaconicon open upon the aisles by doorways. The diaconicon, on the north, connects
directly with the apse, the prothesis has a doorway opening out to the south. This
doorway is on a slightly lower level than the doorways in the side aisle. Its lintel
Ill. 343-
bears an inscription7 which gives the date 561 A. D. The ornament of this church
is worthy of special note. The mouldings and the doorcaps of the south aisle portals
are well executed in high relief; above the easternmost portal are incised discs of rich
patterns. The exterior cornices are of unusually fine profile and proportions, and the
interior string course of the clearstorey is a rich relief moulding. All the window
mouldings are incised, those of the aisle windows being only frame mouldings, while
those of the clearstorey are carried in wide swinging curves from window to window
and terminated in scrolls at the ends. A slender colonette separates the two windows
of the apse.
Southwest Church : This is one of the largest church structures with an undivided
nave. Considerable portions of its south and west walls are preserved (Ill. 342), the
north wall and the east end are more or less ruinous. It has a square sanctuary
between narrow side chambers (Ill. 343). It had bicolumnar porches outside its larger
north doorway and its western portal, and a long colonnade along its south side where
1 A. A. E. S. II, p. 221. 2 Ibid. 226.
5 Ibid. 231. 6 n, B, 5, p. 252.
3 Ibid. 229. 4 Ibid. 230.
‘ III, B. 6, inscr. 1178.