12-14 May 1929

[By George Horsfield]
May 12th. 
 
Busy packing.
 
May 13th.  
 
Do.

May 14th.  Do. Went to El Khazna and spent an hour there – it is curious – examined stone cutting – all surfaces finished with fine [blank] irregularity, to give texture.  The carving is feeble and characteristic – and it Syrian.  The effect is rich and the animals remind me of those found on Jerash.  There is a curious Greek feel about it.  Yet the character of the scanthus is something like the Hadrianic capitals. These want careful comparison of scanty material.

I think it is early - but the straight columns are doubtful for the Syrians knew how to do these. There must be more material for comparison in Syria and Asia Minor.  
 
The statues with horses on either hand are curious – the personage is standing in both cases clothed in a toga on the ground and the horse dames behind him.  They are hideous in their diseased remains. 

Reference: Horsfield G. 1929 (transcribed by A. Thornton). Petra Exploration Fund Diary. "Business Papers to be Kept", Horsfield Collection Box 8, UCL Institute of Archaeology, 12-14 May: 76-77.