. Palestine and Syria with the chief routes through Mesopotamia and Babylonia; handbook for travellers;. both ends of the villageare a number of rock-tombs with recesses. We next come to (1/2 hr.) aninteresting little church, built of blocks of stone, 8 ft. in length. Overthe doors at the W. end, and on the S. side, are placed rosettes withcrosses and arabesques. The five-arched windows in the side of thechurch are bordered with a frieze. Near the church stands a tower inthe same style. To the N. are the ruins of a village. We pass (1/2 hr.)the ruined village of Bazeir on the left, and soon ob
. Palestine and Syria with the chief routes through Mesopotamia and Babylonia; handbook for travellers;. both ends of the villageare a number of rock-tombs with recesses. We next come to (1/2 hr.) aninteresting little church, built of blocks of stone, 8 ft. in length. Overthe doors at the W. end, and on the S. side, are placed rosettes withcrosses and arabesques. The five-arched windows in the side of thechurch are bordered with a frieze. Near the church stands a tower inthe same style. To the N. are the ruins of a village. We pass (1/2 hr.)the ruined village of Bazeir on the left, and soon obtain (/j hr.) a viewof the grand ruins of Kalat Siman, which we reach in 1/4 br. more. Kalat Siman. —Accommodation in tents ; Pbovisions must be brought. History. Kalat Siman sprang up in the 5th cent, after Christ onthe establishment here of a convent (Mandra) of the order of the Stylites,or pillar hermits. Simeon, the founder of the order, the son of a peasant,was born in 391 and died in 459. He began at an early age to subjecthimself to the severest penances and privations. In 422 he ascended a. column of moderate height, on which he spent seven years, after whichhe established himself on the top of a column 38 ft. high, where he spentthe rest of his life. Exposed here to wind and storm, often fasting, alwaysstanding, and unable to sleep, or sitting with his legs doubled up underhim when wounds and weakness rendered standing no longer possible,and latterly bound to the column or enclosed by a railing, he deliveredlectures on the Holy Scriptures from his lofty station and attracted thou- KALAT SIMAN. 4G. Route. 379 sands of hearers and pupils. The principal church here dates from the5th century. The description given by Evagrius, an author of the 6th cent.,applies perfectly to the ruins now before us. The Muslims made a fortressout of the church and monastery. The RuiN8 of Kalat Simdn, forming by far the finest group of the kindin N. Syria, are surrounded by desolate mounta
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