#kalybe

Temple C (Kalybe of Kanatha)

Kanatha (Qanawat), Hauran, Syria

2-3rd century CE

The Temple was a square structure, whose entrance façade, was made of of a four-pillar propylon, nestled between corner pillars facing north. This array, resembling the distyle in antis is quite rare in classical architecture. The four column had corbels designed for placing statues at about half their height. This decorative element is also quite rare in classical architecture, and is found only in a few sites in Syria. The space between the two main pillars in is greater than the spaces between the side pillars and it carried a Syrian gable, with its curve towards an arch is still visible.

The two long east and west walls of the temple were smooth. They stand behind the pilasters of the propylon and connect to the south wall of the temple, i.e. to a wall in the center of which is the apse. The southern wall, that is, the wall in front of the entrance, was designed as having a semicircular apse with adjacent rectangular rooms on both sides. Both rooms opened to the north, that is, towards the inner space of the temple.

 Inside the rounded wall of the apse were three ornate niches, rounded in the outline, which were arranged symmetrically: a niche with a larger opening in the center and next to it smaller niches. The inner space of the temple, which is located between the apse wall and the propylon at the entrance, and between the two long walls wasn’t roofed. Entering the temple through the Syrian gable- crowned  propylon, one would find himself standing in a rectangular plaza that stretched in front of the two-story wall with a semi-circular niche in the center, covered by a half-dome in which the emperor's statue stood.

A Kalybe (κάλὑβη) is a type of temple found in the Roman East dating from the first century and after. They were intended to serve as a public facade or stage-setting, solely for the display of statuary.They were essentially stage-sets for ritual enacted in front of them. The kalybe has been associated with the Imperial Cult.

below: remains of geometric wall painting on western conch of adyton

Kalybe of Bosra (“Cradle of the King’s Daughter”)

Bostra (Bosra), Arabia, Syria

3rd century CE

A Kalybe (κάλὑβη) is a type of temple found in the Roman East dating from the first century and after. They were intended to serve as a "public facade or stage-setting, solely for the display of statuary." "They were essentially stage-sets for ritual enacted in front of them." The kalybe has been associated with the Imperial Cult.

The Kalybe of Bosra enjoys the most impressive location, as it stands at the intersection of the city's two main column streets. The Kalybe of Bosra has a  colonnaded plan with a semi-circular niche in the center, covered by a half-dome, and diagonal walls are stretched on both sides, followed by short, perpendicular walls. The open front of the Kalybe was 24.60 meters long and was bounded by two pillars. These were placed in front of pillasters, at both ends of the Kalybe front, on either side. In the center of the Kalybe was a semicircular niche, with smaller niches beside it. Two diagonal walls, guests five feet each, are drawn from the short walls along the sides of the central niche. In each of the two walls is a small semicircular niche and a pillaster, which complete the wide front of the Kalybe structure. The architectural decoration, which still remains in place, indicates an excellent level of workmanship. In view of the large number of decorative niches, which were arranged on the three floors of the building, it is conceivable that many statues adorned the Kalybe, in addition to the emperor's statue which was placed probably in the central niche.

According to local folklore, an unnamed monarch built the open-air temple with a cradle for his daughter around the second century after being told by a clairvoyant she would die before turning 18 from a poisonous scorpion sting. Once the cradle was built to protect her, slaves would carry food and everything else she needed up the columns. After a while, a deadly scorpion hiding in a bunch of grapes stung and killed her.