Djebel Bārîshā, the subject of this volume in the Ancient Architecture in Syria series, is authored by H.C. Butler and translated by Aisha Moussa. It examines thirteen sites whose buildings, constructed of finely dressed blocks of limestone, remain remarkably well preserved.
The architecture, documented by Greek, Latin, and Syriac inscriptions reveals a unique synthesis of Oriental sensibility and Classical forms, evident in the playful treatment of Classical orders and exuberant ornamentation. Encompassing diverse pagan, ecclesiastical, civil, domestic, and funerary structures, this volume captures an urban fabric clustered within a protective enclosure.
This edition makes Butler's work accessible in Arabic to archaeologists, historians, and enthusiasts of Syrian heritage, offering a rare glimpse into fortified communal life in late antiquity.