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Dhat Ras Temple Subterranean Level
 One of the amazing features of the Dhat Ras
temple is the cistern below the
cella. The cistern measures 6.30
meters long and 4.25 meters wide. The actual depth is not
evident due to debris on the surface but the depth from the
apex of the ceiling to the lowest point in the debris at the
time of our visit was 2.52 meters. The
entrance to the cistern is actually built into the south temple
wall. A small doorway, measuring .69 meters wide and 1.43 meters
high, opens into the temple wall on right side of the temple
entrance. This inset into the wall extends to a depth of .83
meters. The floor of the inset has a rectangular opening,
measuring .48 meters by .54 meters, which is the entry to a
passageway leading to the cistern. [
Photo] Below this opening 1.35
meters is a narrow, L-shaped passage that leads to the cistern.
[
Photo] This drawing shows the entrance to the cistern from the passage.
[
Photo] The large stone below the entrance may have been intentionally
placed in this position to serve as a step.
The Nabateans built the cistern directly below and a little
smaller than the cella. They also plastered the cistern with
limestone plaster to prevent leakage into the ground. The
barrel-vaulted ceiling of the cistern
minimized water evaporation. The drains have an opening in the
cistern ceiling of about .38 meters by .40 meters. They angle up
toward the outside walls at about 45 degrees. Water entering the
top of the drains would travel 1.2 meters down the drain and run
out in the middle of the cistern.[
Photo] The purpose
of the temple’s design was to catch any rainwater that fell into
the temple. The water would find its way to the cella floor, the
lowest surface of the ground level, and then run into one of
four drains in the floor that led to the cistern. The water was
stored in the cistern until needed. There are
several possibilities for the use of the water. First, the water
could have been used for human consumption. However, the water
may have been used another way since the hillside has may
cisterns, including one just 9.5 meters from the northwest
corner of the temple that measures over 4.60 meters deep (not
accounting for the debris in the bottom).
Second, the water may have had a ritual
use, maybe as a bath for the worshippers. However, the
architecture of the building does not directly suggest a
ritual use, with the possible exception of the entrance to the
cistern. Since the entrance to the cistern is in the wall at
the entrance to the temple, perhaps one would retrieve water
and wash before entering the temple. Nevertheless, the cistern
entrance is not easily maneuvered, but one person stationed in
the entrance could retrieve water for everyone without any
problems.
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