754 Items
Serapeum/The Red Basilica, Pergamum
The Serapeum was a vast temple and associated complex built at the foot of the acropolis of Pergamum during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The temple was dedicated to the worship of the Greaco-Egyptian god Serapis and to the Egyptian goddess Isis. The temple complex was huge and had to cross the nearby Selinus river supported by two very large vaulted tunnels which channel the waters to this day. The majority of the courtyard lies under the modern town buildings to the west of the temple. Originally covered with marble facings only the red brick superstructure of the temple remains. During the late Roman/early Byzantine period a church dedicated to St John was built inside the main temple. The church is in poor preservation when compared to the surrounding temple. However due to the instability of the remaining structure of the temple it is not possible to enter it and view the church remains. The temple is flanked by two contempraneous rotunda, one of which is a functioning mosque while the other is open to the general public.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Church, Pergamum, Roman, Temple, Turkey
Late Antique City Walls, Pergamum
Late Antique portion of the city walls on the south west edge of the Lower Agora on the acropolis. Much like many other Late Antique defences these fortifications are made up of significant amounts of spolia that was robbed from nearby dilapidated or ruined buildings. These walls were likely built as the city contracted in Late Antiquity.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Late Antique, Military Architecture, Pergamum, Turkey
Upper Citadel and Arsenal, Pergamum
The most northerly fortified section of the acropolis of Pergamum immediately north of the Temple of Trajan. Within this part of the fortifications lie several warehouses or arsenals believed to be for the storage of provisions, weapons and ammunition. Excavations have recovered significant numbers and varying sizes of stone shot for catapults.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Late Antique, Military Architecture, Pergamum, Roman, Turkey
Ruweiha C5th church
Ruweiha is unusual for being the only village that had two churches with a bema, however in this case the nave-platform seems to have been dismantled when the church was superseded by a new, larger church in the village. Only the south and east sides of the building are still extant, but these survive in good condition and show that this was a substantial church, even if the later building in the village was even more impressive.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bema, C5th, Church, Jebel Zawiyeh, Limestone Massif, Ruweiha, Syria
Baqirha C5th church
The C5th church at Baqirha possesses a bema and has so many outbuildings that it was erronously believed to be a monastery in the past. Today most of the walls have fallen and it is difficult to make out the floorplan of the building.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Baqirha, Bema, C5th, Church, Jebel Barisha, Limestone Massif, Syria
Views towards Antakya from Syria
These views look down from the Syrian Limestone Massif at Baqirha towards Antakya and the Mediterranean coast.
Type: Landscape
Tags: Antakya, Antioch, Baqirha, Jebel Barisha, Landscape, Limestone Massif, Syria, Turkey
Burj Baqirha
Burj Baqirha is the local name given to a C2nd Roman temple that survives on the hill above the settlement of that name overlooking the Syrian-Turkish border.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Baqirha, Burj Baqirha, Jebel Barisha, Limestone Massif, Roman, Syria, Temple
Baqirha C6th church
The settlement of Baqirha had two churches. The façade of the C6th church is perfectly preserved, but the rest of the church is obscured by foliage and fallen masonry. The village is on the high plateau facing the Syrian-Turkish border to the west.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Baqirha, C6th, Church, Jebel Barisha, Limestone Massif, Syria
Dar Qita
The Church of SS. Paul and Moses is an early C5th building in the village of Dar Qita on the plain near the contemporary Syrian-Turkish border. It has been used for stabling animals and a significant amount of stone has been stolen from the site.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bema, C5th, Church, Dar Qita, Jebel Barisha, Limestone Massif, St. Moses, St. Paul, Syria
Qirq Bizeh
Qirq Bizeh is the name of a small abandoned settlement to the north of Qalb Lozeh. A C2nd villa was converted into a church in the C4th or C5th and retains the internal liturgical fittings that clearly identify the ritual use of the building. It is very small, but houses a bema and has a raised platform at the east end that is divided from the rest of the chamber by a chancel screen. There is also evidence of reliquary chambers in the screen and small reliquary caskets elsewhere. The bema retains its 'throne' or pulpit and the ritual use of the house extends to the courtyard where extensive cisterns seem to have housed water or olive oil in antiquity.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bema, C4th, Jebel Il'Ala, Limestone Massif, Martyrium, Pulpit, Qirq Bizeh, Reliquary, Syria, Throne