Were piety to be measured by the size of temples the prize would doubtless be contested by pagans who were at least as devout as the adherents of Abrahamic religions as far as this respect is concerned. The area of of Jupiter's temple in Damascus under the Romans (117,000 square meters) was far larger than that of the modern Umayyad Mosque (16,000 square meters). The Roman temple consisted of 3 parts:
Peribolos. That was the outer space of the sanctuary approached from east and west by the propylaeum, the remnants of which could still be seen in the Miskya including the imposing arch of the Gate of Jupiter and the tall adjacent columns. The main entrance to the temple, however, was from the east as the crowds proceeded from the agora through Via Sacra (modern Qaymariya Street) heading towards what we now call Babn Jayrun. The peribolos served as a meeting place for pilgrims and merchants serving, in adition to its religious purpose, as a marketplace and fair ground.
Temenos: the temple proper where sacrifices took place under the supervision of priests. The temenos was approximately 5 meters higher than the peribolos. It was rectangular in shape and its 4 corners were occupied by towers.
Cella: where the idol was located. Entrance to this innermost sanctuary was forbidden to laymen, only priests were allowed into this holiest of the holy where the intimate rituals were performed. The god's image was nevertheless periodically paraded outside in solemn processions before the crowds.
The second figure represents a reconstruction of the eastern facade of the Temple of Jupiter peribolos in the Roman era. It was at the time the sanctuary's main entrance.
Damascus: A History
Ross Burns
ISBN: 9780415413176
R Dussaud - 1922
LE TEMPLE DE JUPITER DAMASCENIEN. ET SES TRANSFORMATIONS AUX EPOQUES CHRETIENNE. ET MUSULMANE
Peribolos. That was the outer space of the sanctuary approached from east and west by the propylaeum, the remnants of which could still be seen in the Miskya including the imposing arch of the Gate of Jupiter and the tall adjacent columns. The main entrance to the temple, however, was from the east as the crowds proceeded from the agora through Via Sacra (modern Qaymariya Street) heading towards what we now call Babn Jayrun. The peribolos served as a meeting place for pilgrims and merchants serving, in adition to its religious purpose, as a marketplace and fair ground.
Temenos: the temple proper where sacrifices took place under the supervision of priests. The temenos was approximately 5 meters higher than the peribolos. It was rectangular in shape and its 4 corners were occupied by towers.
Cella: where the idol was located. Entrance to this innermost sanctuary was forbidden to laymen, only priests were allowed into this holiest of the holy where the intimate rituals were performed. The god's image was nevertheless periodically paraded outside in solemn processions before the crowds.
The second figure represents a reconstruction of the eastern facade of the Temple of Jupiter peribolos in the Roman era. It was at the time the sanctuary's main entrance.
Damascus: A History
Ross Burns
ISBN: 9780415413176
R Dussaud - 1922
LE TEMPLE DE JUPITER DAMASCENIEN. ET SES TRANSFORMATIONS AUX EPOQUES CHRETIENNE. ET MUSULMANE
ReplyDeleteإذا كان الورع يقاس بضخامة المعابد فمما لا شك فيه أن تقى الوثنيين ضاهى تدين أصحاب الديانات الابراهيمية أو حتى فاقه. كانت مساحة معبد جوبيتر الدمشقي في العهد الروماني تبلغ 117,000 متر مربع متجاوزة بذلك مساحة الجامع الأموي حالياً ( 16,000 متر مربع) بكثير. القسم الخارجي يدعى بيربولس حيث يقاربه الزوار و الحجاج عن طريق رواق فخم لا تزال بقاياه ظاهرة في الغرب (المسكية) حيث توجد بوابة جوبيتر و الأعمدة و لكن مدخل المعبد الأهم كان في الشرق حيث كانت الحشود تقصد الحرم من ساحة المدينة مروراً بالطريق المقدس أو القيمرية حالياً. كان بيربولس يخدم كمكان تجمع للحجيج و كمركز تجاري قبل الدخول إلى تيمينوس (و الذي كان يرتفع عن بيربولس حوالي خمسة أمتار) حيث كان يتم تقديم القرابين تحت إشراف الكهنة. كان دخول الحرم المقدس سلا حيث يوجد تمثال المعبود مقصوراً على الأحبار حيث تجري الطقوس التقليدية و إن كانت صورة الإله تحمل بين وقت و آخر خارج سلا في مواكب مهيبة كي يراها المؤمنون. كان تيمينوس مستطيل الشكل و تحتل زواياه أربعة أبراج
ReplyDeleteالواجهة الخارجية الشرقية لمعبد جوبيتر الدمشقي كما يعتقد أنها بدت في العهد الروماني و كانت المدخل الأهم للحرم