DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2532#0099
78
G ENERAL INTRODUCTION
by a limestone wall. The bases of three rows of five columns are extant in the interior, while
at the west front (facing the temple) it had a portico. In this building numerous objects in
gold, silver, bronze, and terra-cotta were found, as well as a scarab with a cartouche, probably of
Thothmes III.
" We also cleared away all the earth remaining to the east of the temple, and to the west of the
dump S, without finding much there.
" We then turned to the west and south slopes of the terrace, —the main points of this year's
excavations ( Fig. 42).
"The larger portion of the West Building, which lies below the west end of the Second Temple,
about twenty-five to thirty feet below the top of the foundation walls of the temple, was excavated
last year. We now cleared the north end, where the space for the building has been cut out of
the rock which rises at the north end. We here found three chambers which communicate with
the colonnade and central court. The whole is a, very interesting building, the purpose of which
(whether gymnasium, treasury, or combination of buildings) I do not venture to decide at present.
It is a building about one hundred feet (33 metres) by ninety-three (30 metres), consisting of a
colonnade surrounding an open court in the centre, while to the north it is flanked by the three
Fig. 41. — Corner ok the Second Platform, with front of East Building in right Foregrc
chambers running from east to west. It appears to be older than the Second Temple, not later
than the first half of the fifth century 15. C. Here, as in the Upper Stoa, there are drums of col-
umns in situ, besides the pillar bases, and in some places several layers of the stone walls. In
this building there were numerous fragments of the architectural decorations, as well as frag-
ments of sculpture and smaller objects.
" We also cleared the ground to the north of this building to the bed-rock, and at the western
point, to the south of the dump S, we again came upon ruins of interesting buildings. Above the
old supporting walls is the building which we call the Northwest Building. It was difficult digging,
since here too we found intricate walls, and it required Mr. Hoppin's best attention to carry on
the work which was placed in his charge. However, the plan was finally worked out with clear-
ness, and shows a long building (31 metres long by 11.40 wide) of early structure. In digging
here we turned up some fragments which had fallen down from the Second Temple : the face of a
colossal female head, bronze and terra-cotta cows' heads, objects in gold and silver (among them
a silver ring studded with gold and inscribed), etc. This building may be connected with the
traces of the building in the field below, which in the first year we thought might lie Roman.
G ENERAL INTRODUCTION
by a limestone wall. The bases of three rows of five columns are extant in the interior, while
at the west front (facing the temple) it had a portico. In this building numerous objects in
gold, silver, bronze, and terra-cotta were found, as well as a scarab with a cartouche, probably of
Thothmes III.
" We also cleared away all the earth remaining to the east of the temple, and to the west of the
dump S, without finding much there.
" We then turned to the west and south slopes of the terrace, —the main points of this year's
excavations ( Fig. 42).
"The larger portion of the West Building, which lies below the west end of the Second Temple,
about twenty-five to thirty feet below the top of the foundation walls of the temple, was excavated
last year. We now cleared the north end, where the space for the building has been cut out of
the rock which rises at the north end. We here found three chambers which communicate with
the colonnade and central court. The whole is a, very interesting building, the purpose of which
(whether gymnasium, treasury, or combination of buildings) I do not venture to decide at present.
It is a building about one hundred feet (33 metres) by ninety-three (30 metres), consisting of a
colonnade surrounding an open court in the centre, while to the north it is flanked by the three
Fig. 41. — Corner ok the Second Platform, with front of East Building in right Foregrc
chambers running from east to west. It appears to be older than the Second Temple, not later
than the first half of the fifth century 15. C. Here, as in the Upper Stoa, there are drums of col-
umns in situ, besides the pillar bases, and in some places several layers of the stone walls. In
this building there were numerous fragments of the architectural decorations, as well as frag-
ments of sculpture and smaller objects.
" We also cleared the ground to the north of this building to the bed-rock, and at the western
point, to the south of the dump S, we again came upon ruins of interesting buildings. Above the
old supporting walls is the building which we call the Northwest Building. It was difficult digging,
since here too we found intricate walls, and it required Mr. Hoppin's best attention to carry on
the work which was placed in his charge. However, the plan was finally worked out with clear-
ness, and shows a long building (31 metres long by 11.40 wide) of early structure. In digging
here we turned up some fragments which had fallen down from the Second Temple : the face of a
colossal female head, bronze and terra-cotta cows' heads, objects in gold and silver (among them
a silver ring studded with gold and inscribed), etc. This building may be connected with the
traces of the building in the field below, which in the first year we thought might lie Roman.