Ṭur ʿAbdin

Abstract

The introduction of the chapter analyses the topography of Ṭur ʿAbdin through comparisons and settlement relations. The material about church architecture is organized under the separate headings of ‘Villages’ and ‘Monasteries’, which constitute the main settlements in the region, together with some fortifications. The division of settlements into villages and monasteries also coincides with two distinct types of church plans: parish and monastic. In the section on villages, the main settlement features of a late antique village are discussed. After that, the village churches are examined through some of their distinct features, such as engaged arcades, masonry, brickwork, architectural sculpture, and outdoor oratories. The analysis shows that some of these churches underwent considerable rebuilding in the eighth century. Some sixth-century evidence points to their possible origins. Some small churches, built probably from scratch in the eighth century, show that in that period some architectural features were repeated faithfully. Monasteries are first examined as settlements, and spaces that constitute a monastery, other than the churches, such as walls, towers and beth qadishe, are discussed. Then both the main and secondary churches are examined in detail. Some churches of the monasteries stand out for their plan or decoration, such as the church of Mor Ḥananyo at Dayr al-Zaʿfarān and the main church of the monastery of Mor Gabriel. They are dealt with under separate headings. Although not a monastic church, the Church of Yoldath Aloho at Ḥāḥ is treated together with these churches because of some of its architectural features.