Qasr al-Hallabat

The complex of Qasr al-Hallabat is located in Jordan's eastern desert.ArchNet entry for Qasr al-Hallabat and Qasr as-Sarah. {{cite web |title= Qasr al-Hallabat |work= ArchNet |publisher= Aga Khan Trust with MIT |url= http://archnet.org/sites/2851 |access-date= 10 August 2009 |archive-date= 16 June 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160616175547/http://archnet.org/sites/2851 |url-status= dead }} Originally a Roman structure constructed in the 2nd-3rd century AD to protect the eastern frontiers of the Roman Empire, although there is trace evidence of Nabatean presence at the site. It was one fort of many on the Roman highway, Via Nova Traiana, a route that connected Damascus to Aila (modern-day Aqaba) by way of Petra and Philadelphia (modern-day Amman).

In the 6th century, the fort was ceded to the Ghassanids as part of the foedus treaty with the Byzantine emperor Justinian. The Ghassanids significantly altered the structure and constructed a monastery.{{Cite journal |last1= Perry |first1= Megan |last2= Parker |first2= Kathryn |last3= Montgomery |first3= R. Taylor |date= 2015 |title= An Early Islamic Homicide at Qasr Hallabat, Jordan |journal= Near Eastern Archaeology |volume= 78 |issue= 4 |pages= 274–284 |doi= 10.5615/neareastarch.78.4.0274 |jstor= 10.5615/neareastarch.78.4.0274 |issn= 1094-2076 |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5615/neareastarch.78.4.0274|url-access= subscription }}

By the 8th century, the Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ordered the structures to be demolished in order to redevelop this military site and its neighboring territory to become one of the grandest of all Umayyad desert complexes.

Guided by the extant plan,{{dubious|Meaning that the caliph went by an extant Roman plan? If what's meant is: "Judging by what we see today", then write it like this, now it's confusing!|date=November 2020}} Hisham incorporated a mosque (situated 15 meters southeast of the main structure), a complicated water system including five cisterns and a considerably large water reservoir, and a bathhouse. Furthermore, situated to the west of the palace remains an enclosed structure probably used for agricultural purposes such as cultivating olive trees and/or grapevines, of which only a one-layered stone footprint is still standing.

The main palace is built of dark and light stone, basalt and limestone, and has a square floor plan with towers at each corner. Grand in stature, the principal structures were further enhanced with decorative mosaics depicting an assortment of animals, detailed frescoes and highly crafted stucco carvings. The site remains to be completely restored.{{dubious|May Allah protect the site. I know it's a favourite Jordanian passtime, but antiquities don't need to be "completely restored", i.e reconstructed and look like new.|date=August 2021}}

Approximately some 14 meters southeast of the palace stand the remains of the mosque. Small in scale, it measures 10.70 by 11.80 meters and is constructed of layered limestone. Inside, two arching riwaqs{{clarify|reason=A riwaq is a portico open to one or more sides. Hard to imagine how riwaqs divide the mosque "inside". Unless "inside" is meant to signify both prayer hall (whose inner space others might call the "inside"), and the courtyard with the washing facilities, in which case the 2 riwaks split the courtyard into 3 sections. But I think it's just a mistake. Please clarify.|date=August 2021}} divide the mosque into three sections. A rounded molding extends the perimeter of the space at the height of 2.10 meters. Similar to Qusayr 'Amra and Hammam as-Sarah, three barrel vaults support the roof of the structure. Encircling the mosque from the north, west, and east stood a 3.30-meter wide portico.

Of the mosque, three wall sections, including the mihrab in the southern wall, remained intact from the original structure. Recent reconstruction works have added back the collapsed{{clarify|reason=Collapsed? Is that a fact? At Hammam Sarah, much of the masonry was looted after 1950 to build new houses. Here it wasn't? Were the stones found laying among the ruins?|date=August 2021}} elements.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

File:Qasr Al-Hallabat mosque.jpg|Mosque (front view) after being largely rebuilt, Mihrab is visible in the interior back wall

File:Qasr Al-Hallabat, entrance courtyard.jpg|Entrance courtyard

File:Qasr Al Hallabat, mosaic floor.jpg|Mosaic floor at the castle

File:Qasr Al Hallabat, inscribed block.jpg|Greek inscription on basalt block in secondary use

{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2020}}

The nearby modern town of Qasr Al-Hallabat is a municipality consisting of four villages. The area is inhabited by the Bani Sakhr tribe, especially the Al-Othman family.

• Desert castles
• Jordanian art
• Umayyad architecture

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• [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199005/qasr.al-hallabat.htm A history of the excavation of Qasr al-Hallabat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103140215/http://saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199005/qasr.al-hallabat.htm |date=2010-01-03 }}
• [https://acor.digitalrelab.com/index.php?s=filter=place_name:Qasr%20al-Hallabat%20(Jordan) Photos of Qasr al-Hallabat], The American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR)
• [https://www.manar-al-athar.ox.ac.uk/pages/collections_featured.php?parent=6220 Photos of Qasr al-Hallabat] at the Manar al-Athar photo archive

{{Umayyad Desert Castles}}

{{Amman Governorate}}{{Castles in Jordan}}

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Amra

Hallabat

Category:Populated places in Amman Governorate

Category:Umayyad palaces

Category:Umayyad architecture in Jordan

Category:Tourism in Jordan