The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-27

agogue of Kerazeh or Chorazin while
the cornice, which was extremely
forid, and not unlike what 10 modern
parlance is called "the egg and-dart
pattern though differing in some re-
spects from the cornices hitherto OBJ.
served, was evidently Of the same
school of design The capitals were
two feet three inches high, and Cor
inthian in the same style and of he
same dimensions as those of the small
synagogue of Kefr Birim, and there
was the upper fragment of two semi
attached huied columns, with Doric
capitals, the ditto of which is to be
found at Irbid The two columns in
situ exactly answer in position those
OF several of the synagogues, and
though the position of the door, which
was in the centre of the western wall,
was somewhat unusual this was ac-
counted for by the fact that the build
ing had been excavated from the hill
side, 80 that the top of the east wall,
nine feet of which was still standing,
was level with the surface of the slope
| of the hill
The only convenient entrance was
in the wall of the side Immediately op.
posite to it. The name of this most
interesting locality was Eddikkih, a
spot hitherto unvisi,ed by any travel
Ter. Indeed if it had been visited, it
would have been passed unnoticed, for
its antiquarian treasures nave only
been revealed for the first time few
months ago. The word Eddikkih
means platform" name, considering
its position, not inappropriate; but |
have not been able to identify it with
any Biblical site.
The area OF ruins apart from those
of the synagogue itself was not ve,y
large, but the situation was highly pic
turcsque. Half mile to the north of
where we stood the Jordan forces its
way through gorge which | hope
some day to explore, while immediate
, ly below us it rushed between numer-
Gus small lslets. Opposite the hills
swelled gently back from its western
bank, behind u they rose more abrupt
ly to the high tableland of Jaulan,
while 10 the southwark stretched the
plain of Buteiha, with the Lake of Ii
bpras in the distance.
Meantime the few wild looking ma
tives who inhabit this remote locality
clustered around me, as they watched
me measuring and sketchng, with no
little suspicion and alarm. "See,' said
one to auother, sour country is being
taken from us. My request for old
cous only frightened them the more.
They vehemently protested that not
one had been found, an assertion
which, under the circumstances, felt
sure was untrue nor did the most gen
tie and reassurlng language, with
tenders of backshish-w which was nev-
ertheless greedily accepted-tend to
aliay their fears. / have forgotten to
mention what was perhaps the most
interesting Object of all, and this was
the carved figure of winged female,
waving what seemed to be sheaf in
one hand, while her legs we've doubled
backward in a most uncomfortable aud
ungractful position. 1t was on an iso-
lat slab about six inches thick, and
two feet one way by eighteen inches
the other.
The area of the hillside all around
was strewn with the blocks of building
stone of which the town had been
built. 1t had apparently not been a
very large place, but as the villagers
will probably continue their excava-
tious for their own purposes next sum
mer, it is not at all unlikely that they
may bring some more interesting re-
mains to light, l earnestly imprt ssed
upon them the necessity of preserving
these, promising another visit next
year, when would reward them in
proportion TO the carvings, coins, or
other antiquities they could provide
for me; but they listened to my ex-
horlaion with such stupid and sus-
picious expression of eountenance that
| did not derive much encouragement
from their reluctant consent