T. E. Lawrence’s Undergraduate Dissertation – Page 112

The keep of the Latin owners of Saone is however of more particular interest. One of a fairly numerous class in Syria, it bears a distinct resemblance to the keeps of North-west Europe, only modified to suit the local conditions. "(...)" In Europe no keep was vaulted above the basement; in Syria there was no other way of making a roof. When so large a building was stone-vaulted, however, the height of the European keeps became impossible ; the architect of Coucy could build a vaulted keep of four stories, but not so the architect of the early 12th century. With the abolition of the upper stories went naturally the entrance by ladder or forebuilding on the first floor. Square keeps are to be found in Syria at Saone in Antioch, at Chastel Blanc, Chastel Rouge, Botron and Giblet in Tripoli, and at Beaufort, Banias, and possibly Caesarea in the kingdom. "(...)" This one at Saone is the most massive .; in form it is roughly a square of about 90 feet each way : the height is 76 feet, "(l)" and the thickness of the walls in the first floor some 22 feet. The entrance is on the ground level by a very small doorway, closed only by a hinged gate. The keep at Giblet, probably the latest in date, is the only one that has a portcullis of those in Syria : and in Europe also a portcullis in a keep --------------------------------------------------------- (l) There is a lusty colony of snakes on the ground floor preventing exact measurement, above all since it is in total darkness. "..."