Athena Review Image Archive ™
Jerusalem: Chapel of St. Helena, Corinthian capitals
Jerusalem: Corinthian capitals at St. Helena's Chapel (photos:DAP/iaa)
St, Helena`s Chapel is an Armenian shrine rebuilt in the 12th century during the Crusader era. Its columns, set in a quadrilateral plan, are from the original 4th century church built by Helena, mother of Constantine.
The columns have Early Byzantine Corinthian capitals, some with basket motifs. Similar columns have been found reused in the El Aqsa Mosque, at times buried in octagonal piers. Many may have been taken from ruined churches in the Holy Sepulchre complex after an 8th century earthquake (cf. Hamilton ms. 1942, DAP).
The photos are from the 1919-1948 collection of the Palestine Dept. of Antiquities (DAP), now stored at the Scientific Archive at the Israel Antiquities Institute (www.iaa-archives.org).
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