3-053-589 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Giant Cities of Bashan - Kanawat, 1873. 'Kunewât is one of the few towns in the Hauran which have any beautiful surroundings. It is situated high up on the mountain side, a few miles to the north-east of Sweideh, in the midst of trees, and commands an extensive view on the western side. Below the town, on the south-west side, is a massive platform supporting six beautiful columns and the bases of two others, about 6 ft. in circumference and upwards of 25 ft. high. On the east side of the platform there is a flight of steps, and underneath it there are rooms choked with rubbish. There are some square towers...a little higher up: these are sepulchres. They are extremely well built of hewn stone. Some of the stones are cut so as to dovetail and fit very firmly together. The greatest ruin is that of a palace in the highest part of the town. It is indeed a magnificent ruin...The doorways, ornamented with the fruitful vine-branch, beautifully sculptured, are charming...The inscriptions do not refer to any period earlier than the time of Agrippa. The majority speak of the period from Trajan to Justinian - the period of Roman dominion in Syria'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.