Temple of ʿAtīl: detail of the façade
In the ruins of the ancient Athela (today ʿAtīl, north of as-Suwaydāʾ and west of Qanawāt) is found this basalt temple dating to the middle of the second century CE. It has rich sculpted decorations.
There are two small temples at ʿAtīl, an inhabited town on the western slope of Jabal Hauran, almost identical in dimensions, plan, and design. One of them is situated on the western confines of the town, the other stands near its northern end. Both are in complete ruins, but enough of their superstructure is preserved in situ, and a sufficient number of details are to be found in the immediate vicinity, to enable us to make almost complete restorations of them both.
The western temple is dated by an inscription of the emperor Antoninus Pius of the year 151 CE. This inscription is at present concealed behind the wall of a modern dwelling which includes the whole structure. The plan of the temple was distyle in antis, and the inscription was engraved upon the plinths of both antæ. The best-preserved inscription is that upon the left anta. A similar inscription occupied the corresponding position upon the other anta, but only a fragment of it has been discovered. The temple is today almost completely hidden by a modern construction of broken stones, so that only the south wall is still visible.
Jacques Ghislain de Maussion de Favières. Damascus, Baghdad: Capitals and lands of the caliphs. Translation to English by Edward J. Banks. Librairie orientale (Dar el-Mashreq), Beirut, Lebanon. 1972.
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