Inktober 2018, Part 5 (21-25)

Mobile Suit Gundam, ep.41

Temple of Zeus Bomos (”of the Altar”)

Baqirha, Dead cities area, Syria

161 CE

The Temple is Corinthian Tetrastyle prostyle which stands at the upper, southern end away from the settlement near the street. It may have been built on the site of a much older sanctuary. The temple from 161 CE was dedicated to Zeus Bomos (“Zeus of the altar”), a local name for the main Syrian god Baal . Zeus temples were often built on mountains; another was in close proximity on the summit of Jebel Sheikh Baraqat, several around the summit of Hermon.

A rectangular building made of mighty limestone blocks rose above the base of the temple, which is comparable to the Baal Shamin temple in Palmyra , with an entrance hall with four pillars on the west side. The eastern rear wall up to the gable and part of the north wall were preserved. In front of the temple the sections of the collapsed columns and Corinthian capitals lie.

The temple currently houses a refugee family.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Kalybe of Il-Haiyat

Il-Haiyat, Trachon, Syria

2-3 century CE

The site is located in the east-east of the Tarkon, 7 km northwest of Laqqa. In front of us is a transverse structure, whose longitudinal axis is east-west.

The structure consisted of three halls arranged in one row, slightly identical in size. The main hall, which was apparently covered by a dome, opened to the north in an arched opening. The width of the opening is almost the same as the width of the hall. The main hall rose to a height of two storeys, while the two side halls were each divided horizontally into two storeys. The halls on the lower floor had small openings - an opening for each of the two halls - and on the second floor there were arranged windows above the openings. To the upper floor led the two staircases, placed in the thick walls that separated the main hall from the side halls. It is worth noting the existence of a semi-circular niche covered by a half-dome, which is unusually located, between the arch that crowns the central opening and the western window. The dimensions of the niche made it possible to place a statue in it.

Sources: 1, 2

Gamera’s foes return for a stock footage curtain call. 

Gamera Super Monster (1980).

North Temple of Atil - Temple of Theandrites

Atil, Hauran, Syria

211–212 CE

This small town contains two almost identically designed Roman temples, delicately fashioned from the local basalt stone. The south Temple stems from the Antonine period (151 CE) the second or North Temple (probably dedicated to the Nabataean deity, Theandrites) was built in 211–212 CE. The southern temple is better preserved, while the northern temple has been incorporated into a modern house and tomb. Both have attractively decorated facades with fine detail.

Sources: 1, 2