jeffery_unidentified_church

About the centre of the cemetery stands a block of ruins consisting of the south-west angle of the medieval church of which the turret staircase has heen carried up as the minaret of the mosque, hence the preservation of the fragment. The surrounding burial ground is covered with ancient fragments used as tombstones.

Enlart ("L'Art Gothique", page 150, English translation by David Hunt) gives a lengthy description and no less than six of his charming illustrations are furnished by this mutilated fragment. The destruction of this interesting monument was due to the ignorant cupidity of natives seeking imaginary treasures concealed in the mosque. The staircase turret, which rises at the south-west angle of the church has been prolonged into a minaret; a trefoil tympanum over the staircase door is ornamented with three roses of charming effect.

By the side of this door remains the jamb of the west entrance of the church. It is ornamented with two column shafts of ogee section; they are separated by an ogee moulding and surmounted by low capitals of undercut and undulating foliage having an effect as if violently blown by the north wind. The combination of these capitals forms a kind of frieze and the start of the drip-stone at the side is a corbel ornamented with a finely designed winged dragon.

The doorway must have had a tympanum filled in because the lintel (left) in grey marble broken in two pieces formerly lay amongst the ruins. This lintel is almost identical with that of the neighbouring church of St. Catherine. Its decorations consist of a row of four dragons with wings and dogs' heads, and tails ending in foliage between these animals are carved roses. This fragment has lately been removed to Government House (*).

A portion of the south wall of the church remains with two tomb-niches below a moulded string, above are the jamb and window shaft, etc., of a window. In the interior angle of the ruin are preserved details of moulded ribs to vaulting, shafts, etc., so that by the expert in such matters the design of the ancient church can still he detected. It was evidently precisely similar in proportions and detail to the neighbouring St. Catherine's, but of a somewhat earlier and better style of architecture. It may very possibly have served as the model for the later edifice. The plan of the church may still be traced amongst the graves.

Amongst the debris in the cemetery is an enormous capital from a circular column. The abacus is octagonal with a few twisted leaves of a mediocre style of carving beneath: its provenance is unknown.

(*) Note: George Jeffery, who wrote this text, made his observations around 1918. - Hans Doeleman.



		Nicosia, unidentified medieval church became a mosque... YENI CAMI

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	Yeni Cami (phonetical: Djami), The New Mosque Quarter: This division takes its name from a new mosque built within the last few years out of the ruins of a very beautiful and interesting medieval church (*). The mosque is a perfectly unarchitectural square building occupying the south east corner of an old moslem burial ground.
About the centre of the cemetery stands a block of ruins consisting of the south-west angle of the medieval church of which the turret staircase has heen carried up as the minaret of the mosque, hence the preservation of the fragment. The surrounding burial ground is covered with ancient fragments used as tombstones. Enlart ("L'Art Gothique", page 150, English translation by David Hunt) gives a lengthy description and no less than six of his charming illustrations are furnished by this mutilated fragment. The destruction of this interesting monument was due to the ignorant cupidity of natives seeking imaginary treasures concealed in the mosque. The staircase turret, which rises at the south-west angle of the church has been prolonged into a minaret; a trefoil tympanum over the staircase door is ornamented with three roses of charming effect. By the side of this door remains the jamb of the west entrance of the church. It is ornamented with two column shafts of ogee section; they are separated by an ogee moulding and surmounted by low capitals of undercut and undulating foliage having an effect as if violently blown by the north wind. The combination of these capitals forms a kind of frieze and the start of the drip-stone at the side is a corbel ornamented with a finely designed winged dragon. The doorway must have had a tympanum filled in because the lintel (left) in grey marble broken in two pieces formerly lay amongst the ruins. This lintel is almost identical with that of the neighbouring church of St. Catherine. Its decorations consist of a row of four dragons with wings and dogs' heads, and tails ending in foliage between these animals are carved roses. This fragment has lately been removed to Government House *(). A portion of the south wall of the church remains with two tomb-niches below a moulded string, above are the jamb and window shaft, etc., of a window. In the interior angle of the ruin are preserved details of moulded ribs to vaulting, shafts, etc., so that by the expert in such matters the design of the ancient church can still he detected. It was evidently precisely similar in proportions and detail to the neighbouring St. Catherine's, but of a somewhat earlier and better style of architecture. It may very possibly have served as the model for the later edifice. The plan of the church may still be traced amongst the graves. Amongst the debris in the cemetery is an enormous capital from a circular column. The abacus is octagonal with a few twisted leaves of a mediocre style of carving beneath: its provenance is unknown. ()* Note: George Jeffery, who wrote this text, made his observations around 1918. - Hans Doeleman.
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