Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/428

412 412 ITALIAN AECHITECTURE. Pakt II. at Abi Gosh — the ancient Kh-jath-Jearira (Wooclcuts Nos. 837, 838). Externally it is a rectangle, 86 ft. by 57 ft., with three apses which do not appear externally. Under the whole is an extensive crypt. Though small, it is so complete, and so elegant in all its details, that it would be difficult to find anywhere a more perfect example of the style. As it now stands it is very much simpler and j^lainer than any Northern example of the same age would be ; but it originally depended on painting for its decoration, and traces of this may still be seen on its desecrated walls. It is now used as a cattle- shed. The church at Ramleh is one of the largest, and must origi- nally have been one of the finest of these Syrian churches. It is now used as a mosque, and the consequent alteration of its ar- rangements, with plas- ter and whitewash, have done much to destroy its architec- tural effect. At Sebaste there is one as large as that at Ramleh — 160 ft. by 80 ft, — and showing a more completely de- veloped Gothic style than those at Jerusalem. At Lydda there is another very similar in detail to that last mentioned. Though now only a fragment, it is one of singular ele- gance, and shows a purity of detail and arrangement not usual in Nortli- ern churches of that age. De Vogiie is of opinion that both the last-named churches must have been completed before the year 1187. It is hard, how- ever, to believe that an Italian Gothic style could have attained that degree of perfection so early, and if the date assigned is correct it is evident that the pointed style was devel- oped earlier in the East than in the West, a circumstance which from our knowledge of what had happened in Armenia and elsewhere is by no means improbable. The date assigned to these churches is rendered more probable hj the existence of a Gothic building, certainly as advanced as any of 839. East End of Church at Lydda, (From De Vogiii.) S40. Apse of Church at Lydda. Scale 50 ft. to 1 in.