Qal'at Si'man / Kalat Siman / Qal'at Si'mān / Qala'at Sema'an / Qalaat Semaan / Qalaat Samaan / Qalat Siman / Qulat Siman / Saint Simeon baptistery
Image copyright © Brian Alvars Catlos, 2003
Image and permission received (e-mail 3/7/2003)
Results: 3 records
view of baptistery interior
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Brian Alvars Catlos, 2003
Image Source: Brian Catlos for BSI
Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail 3/7/2003)
view of baptistery interior - mosaic
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Brian Alvars Catlos, 2003
Image Source: Brian Catlos for BSI
Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail 3/7/2003)
view of font
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Brian Alvars Catlos, 2003
Image Source: Brian Catlos for BSI
Copyright Instructions: Image and permission received (e-mail 3/7/2003)
INFORMATION
FontID: 08480QAL
Church/Chapel: Byzantine Church of St. Simeon
Church Patron Saints: St. Simeon Stylites
Country Name: Syria
Location: Hims, [Northern Syria]
Directions to Site: Located near Deir Tazzeh, about 36 km from Aleppo (follow road from Aleppo to Deir Tazzeh, then 6 km to Saint Simeon)
Font Location in Church: In the baptistery, which is located aout 150 m. south of the quadruple basilica
Century and Period: 5th century, Early Christian
Font Notes: Click to view font notes
Described in Burns (1992: 210-214): baptismal font of the sunken type enclosed within the walls of the baptistery in the church complex -a quadruple basilica construction- dedicated to St. Simeon Stylites at the location known as Qala'at Semaan [St. Simeon's Castle], near Aleppo; the sunken font is located at the east end of the semi-circular absidiola. This font fits roughly the round-centre-with-wings type, the wings accommodating the four steps on either side; the lower part of the centre basin appears to have a depression that may correspond to the drainage system. Because of its constuction within the walls of the narrow apse-like bulding, the fonts is slightly lop-sided. [We are grateful to Dr. Brian Catlos for bringing this font to our attention and for the images of it taken in July 2003]
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Font Shape: rectangular with round centre (sunken)
Basin Interior Shape: rectangular (with round centre)
Basin Exterior Shape: rectangular with round centre
Drainage Notes: cf. Image
REFERENCES
Burns, Ross, Monuments of Syria: an Historical Guide, London: I.B. Tauris & Co., 1992
Tchalenko, Georges, Églises de village de la Syrie du nord, Paris: Librairie orientaliste P. Geuthner, 1979-1980