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ROTOLO n.4 –Ancient thermae of Syria
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
An occasion to remember and honour pre-islamic thermae in Syria, mostly gone destroyed/damaged by the war.
Composite thread made up of more chapters.
#ancient #thermae #Syria #ruins
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
An occasion to remember and honour pre-islamic thermae in Syria, mostly gone destroyed/damaged by the war.
Composite thread made up of more chapters.
#ancient #thermae #Syria #ruins
Let’s get started with thermae of Brad.
Located on the hills near the northern city of #Aleppo, this ancient hamlet lies now in the heart of the syrian conflict.
The first picture (access to furnace + E side) shows a better conservation state, as the second one shows that the vaults are collapsed (at least before 2004).
The building is entirely made of stone, as you can see in these multiple sections.
Section A-B is recognizable in the outer picture of the previous tweet.
Section A-B is recognizable in the outer picture of the previous tweet.
I animated for you the reconstruction hypotesis of Tchalenko (J. Tchalenko, Villages Antiques de la Syrie du Nord, Institut Français d’Archéologie de Beyrouth, vol. II, tab. XIX, XX, Paris, 1953)
Descriptive notes and my considerations:
We talk now about Serjilla, one of the Syrian Dead Cities, and its thermal complex near which also lie the ruins of religious, funerary and production complexes.
Lat: 35° 41′ 33″ N Long: 36° 29′ 70″ E📌
tinyurl.com/y4neuzyv🎞️
Lat: 35° 41′ 33″ N Long: 36° 29′ 70″ E📌
tinyurl.com/y4neuzyv🎞️
In the mountainous region of Jabal Zawiya lies, in a valley on a dominant position, the dead city of Serjilla.
The settlement grew on a strategic crossing on the trade route between the coast and the inland, on the wedge-shaped slopes created by two valleys coming together.
The settlement grew on a strategic crossing on the trade route between the coast and the inland, on the wedge-shaped slopes created by two valleys coming together.
Here the ruins are (were?) exceptionally well readable, allowing a deeper analysis.
The thermal complex is intelligently located, and it’s of public utility, unlikely that in Brad, and is integrated with an Andron, a meeting building that deserves its own sub-section.
The thermal complex is intelligently located, and it’s of public utility, unlikely that in Brad, and is integrated with an Andron, a meeting building that deserves its own sub-section.
The building consists of a large gabled central hall accessible through a small atrium on the E side, which distributes through a series of vestibula to the changing room, tepidarium and calidarium –located along the wide S façade.
On the N side is located the recessum (latrines), while the storage room occupies the W side, serving the furnaces of the calidarium, which were loaded by the slaves in the inner covered yard.
Have a look at these sections of the rubbles.
Moreover, water was stored on the facing underground reservoir (6x12m), which also served as outer square, forming a complex with the thermal building and the Andron overlooking it.
Moreover, water was stored on the facing underground reservoir (6x12m), which also served as outer square, forming a complex with the thermal building and the Andron overlooking it.
ANDRON:
In the vicinity of the thermae, stands the Andron a meeting place for men. Some say the groundfloor was a stable, but its function has never been precisely established.
In the vicinity of the thermae, stands the Andron a meeting place for men. Some say the groundfloor was a stable, but its function has never been precisely established.
A very refined building with a colonade on the S façade, exquisitely merging hellenistic and middle eastern elements, as seen especially in the capitols.
This is probably the only existing picture of the reconstruction of the Andron.
Note that it was built in 2 phases. Also, the special self-sustaining thrusses, to avoid the use of ridge beams due to lack of wood.
Note that it was built in 2 phases. Also, the special self-sustaining thrusses, to avoid the use of ridge beams due to lack of wood.
DAMAGES
I tried to make some comparisons, but it’s hard to tell due to the scarcity of recent data.
Situation in 2016 & 2017.
Here, a similar –better developed version, for Bosra: tinyurl.com/y2xb5a9k
I tried to make some comparisons, but it’s hard to tell due to the scarcity of recent data.
Situation in 2016 & 2017.
Here, a similar –better developed version, for Bosra: tinyurl.com/y2xb5a9k
This area was subject to the Idleb offensive from rebels in 2015 and it’s likely that several sites could have been damaged, and if not then, now with the looming recapture of the area by SAA.
This video comes from the same area (note the molding around the window) but I couldn’t establish yet from which location, but I’ll keep investigating. This is what I am afraid could have happened:
This other one, is...one of a kind.
Note that APSA doesn’t exists, these "archeaeologists" are militants, and you can hear some “snackbar” in the background: tinyurl.com/y6olgpgd
So...dangers for the area are considerable.
Note that APSA doesn’t exists, these "archeaeologists" are militants, and you can hear some “snackbar” in the background: tinyurl.com/y6olgpgd
So...dangers for the area are considerable.
I think I found it.
"House on hill east of town, general view from south" Der Sambil (Deir Sumbul?)
Howard Crosby Butler Archive
"House on hill east of town, general view from south" Der Sambil (Deir Sumbul?)
Howard Crosby Butler Archive
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