Athena Review Image Archive ™
Jerusalem: Al Aqsa, Porch, Pier 11 colonettes, elbow bracket, & capitals
Jerusalem: Al Aqsa, Pier 11 colonettes, elbow bracket, and capitals (photo: DAP 24-576 /IAA)
The North Porch or Portico of Al Aqsa was first built by Templars during the Crusader period (AD 1099-1187). The Porch was expanded in the 13th-16th centuries under successive sultans, recorded by insciptions on the north facade.
This photo (DAP 24-576) of Pier 11 shows its corner colonettes, elbow bracket, and capitals representing the original North Porch configuration. The photo was taken during 1938-1942 testing by the Palestine Department of Antiquities (DAP).
The
inner face of Pier 11 has two corner shafts or colonnettes with
capitals (a,d), and an elbow bracket in center carved as coupled
colonnettes bent at right angles (b,c), with capitals of acanthus
leaves, of the same type as on the corner shafts.
This
combination of elements (corner colonnettes with capitals, elbow
brackets with similar capitals, and cornice) is repeated in five of the
central piers (3,4,5,11,12), dating from 1099-1187.
DAP photos, drawings, and R. W. Hamilton`s 1942 report are in the Archives at the Israeli Archaeology Authority (iaa-archives-org.il).
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