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illustration of Voussoir of apse arch, Burdj Bāḳirḥa
Scale 1/16in = 1ft.
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On this site, just below the temple described above, is the ruin of a large town, built on a series of high terraces - the hill here slopes steeply toward the valley and the buildings are piled one above the other giving a very fine and lofty effect from below.
The two chief buildings are the church, a fine large structure of the sixth century, and a somewhat complicated structure, part of which seems to have been a religious building.
Besides these is a large variety of domestic buildings of various dimensions and in different styles, rough polygonal, megalithic and quadrated, with varying amounts of sculpted ornament.
Church. 546 A.D.. The church is situated near the top of the town and well to the east. It measures 50 feet by 92ft. overall, and is planned with sq. east end and narthex to the west. The east end, apse and chapels, and the west wall with the colonnade of the porch are well preserved.
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Last edit 8 months ago by denise22334@gmail.com
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but the lateral walls and interior arcades have all fallen.
Apse. The apse measures 22ft. 10in wide and 13ft. deep. The arch of the apse has fallen; but the pilaster, with well carved capital which supported it on the north and that which supported the first arch of the nave on the same side are still in place.
The decoration of the east end is quite simple, a moulding runs along the level of the window sills and ^ another ^ is carved over each round topped window ^ ending in a spiral volute. ^ The windows are 22in. in d. and 4ft. 5 high. The corince runs on a level across the end of the end walls of the aisles then straight up to the gable where it is carried horizontally across the apse.
Façade. The west wall is preserved quite intact with its finely decorated portal and two stories of windows above it. The central windows over the main portal is much the largest church window we have seen and it is truely arched. on the exterior all the windows are moulded. The main portal* is particularly fine. GK and Syrc.insc *see photos
