Qasr Tuba

Qasr at-Tuba is the southernmost of the Umayyad desert castles in Jordan. Built in 743 CE by Caliph al-Walid II for his sons, al-Hakam and ‘Uthman,Hattstein, M. and Delius, P., Islam: Art and Architecture, Könemann, 2000. p. 72; Fowden, G., Qusayr 'Amra: Art and the Umayyad Elite in Late Antique Syria, University of California Press, 2004 p. 158 it was initially intended to consist of two roughly {{convert|70|m2|adj=on}} courtyard dwellings with projecting semicircular decorative towers, but the project was never completed.Fowden, G., Qusayr 'Amra: Art and the Umayyad Elite in Late Antique Syria, University of California Press, 2004 p. 164-65 The structure appears to have been abandoned some time after the assassination of Caliph al Walid.Petersen, A, Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, Routledge, 2002, p. 239; Meyers, E.M. (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, Volume 5, Oxford University Press, 1997, p. 271

File:Qasr Tuba.jpg

The palace at Qasr at-Tuba might have been the residence or hunting lodge of the Caliph's sons,Fowden, G., Qusayr 'Amra: Art and the Umayyad Elite in Late Antique Syria, University of California Press, 2004 p. 158; Hansen, I.L. and Wickham, C. (eds) The Long Eighth Century, BRILL, 2000, p. 289 since hunting was a favoured pastime of the aristocracy.Petersen, A, Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, Routledge, 2002, p. 239; Meyers, E.M. (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, Volume 5, Oxford University Press, 1997, p. 241 It also served as a caravanserai and was part of the Caliph's program to improve the routes to Hijaz,Hansen, I.L. and Wickham, C. (eds) The Long Eighth Century, BRILL, 2000, p. 289 at a time when the number of caravans passing through the region had increased substantially.Jordan: Annual, Volume 36, Dāʼirat al-Āthār al-ʻĀmmah, 1992, p. 317 (translated from French) It lacks the imperial features associated with other desert castles, suggesting that it was used as a temporary or seasonal residence rather than a permanent one.Hansen, I.L. and Wickham, C. (eds) The Long Eighth Century, BRILL, 2000, p. 290

The site was brought to art historical attention after it was visited in 1896 by the Czech explorer Alois Musil.{{Cite web |url=http://www.select.jo/qasr-tuba.shtm |title=Qasr Tuba {{!}} Jordan Travel Information and guide |access-date=2009-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729182838/http://www.select.jo/qasr-tuba.shtm |archive-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=dead }}

It is situated about {{convert|110|km}} south-east of the capital, Amman. Its location is relatively isolated, in a desert location with difficult access.Teller, M., Jordan,Rough Guides, 2002, p.4; Maplandia World Gazetteer Most desert castles are located near to a source of water. Qasr al Tuba is no exception; wells are located nearby, close to a dry river bed ("wadi") and the site includes a dam and several wells.Petersen, A, Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, Routledge, 2002, p. 239

The surviving foundations and structures reveal its current layout as consisting of the west wing only; of an oblong enclosure measuring {{convert|140|by|72|m}}, almost a double square, or two symmetrical enclosures, each with a grand entrance, connected by an internal corridor, which could be cut off when necessary.Rogers, M., The spread of Islam, Elsevier-Phaidon, 1976, p. 108 The enclosure walls are supported by semi-round towers, except on the north side where the two gateways are flanked by two square rooms. The northwestern section is nearly intact and several lengths of curtain-wall exist on the western side.Petersen, Andrew, Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, Routledge, 2002, p. 239 A prayer chapel has also been identified on the site.حولية دائرة الآثار العامة, Volume 56, Jordan: Dāʼirat al-Āthār al-ʻĀmmah, Department of Antiquities, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 2012, p. 57

The surviving structures consist of ashlar masonry with baked brick and barrel-vaulted roofs. The lintels are decorated with rosettes intertwined with plant leaves, which give the impression of fine lace work.Talgamm T., The Stylistic Origins of Umayyad Sculpture and Architectural Decoration, Part 1, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2004, p. 44

It is a prime example of an Umayyad construction of brick vaults set on brick walls.Grabar, O., Holod, R., Knustad, J. and Trousdale, W, City in the Desert,Harvard CMES, 1978, p. 152 The Lonely Planet Guide describes it as "easily the most impressive of the lesser-known castles.""Jordan- Eastern Desert Attractions," Online: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/jordan/eastern-desert/attractions/qasr-al-tuba/a/poi-sig/1106901/361086

• Desert castles
• Islamic art
• Islamic architecture
• Jordanian art
• Umayyad architecture

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101213235205/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=7366 Qasr al-Tuba], Archnet Digital Library.
• [https://acor.digitalrelab.com/index.php?s=filter=place_name:Qasr%20Tuba%20(Jordan) Photos of Qasr Tuba], American Center of Research
• [http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/qasr_tuba.html A general website about Qasr Tuba]
• [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199005/qasr.tuba.htm Website about the discovery of Qasr Tuba]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140729182838/http://www.select.jo/qasr-tuba.shtm Website about the discovery of Qasr Tuba]

• Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair (eds), Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture, [Three-Volume Set], Oxford University Press, 2009

{{Umayyad Desert Castles}}

{{Amman Governorate}}

Category:Amman Governorate

Category:Umayyad palaces

Category:Umayyad architecture in Jordan

Category:8th-century establishments in the Umayyad Caliphate