Entrance to Vaulted Passage

North Wall, Karak, Jordan

A vaulted passageway leads from the north wall into the castle. The Crusaders built strong but hastily, incorporating material from older structures willy-nilly into the castle. It's possible to find Corinthian capitals, Byzantine lintels, and even Nabataean torsos incorporated here and there into the walls.

Young Woman Holding a Plate

early 8th century AD 

Audience Hall, Amra, Jordan

 

One of the better-preserved images at Amra is this bare-breasted young woman, bejewelled with armlets and necklaces, who extends a plate as if to offer refreshment to the prince's guests. The painting is located on the underside of the eastern arch in the audience hall, facing the entrance. 

Inner Entrance

Ajlun Castle

Ajlun Castle(Qalat al Rabad)

, Jordan

 

The passage through Ajlun's outer entrance  leads eventually to this double gate, which was actually the original entrance to the castle before a 1214-1215 enlargement. The double gate incorporates a portcullis that could be lowered between its inner and outer arches. 

Outer Entrance

East Wall, Ajlun Castle

Ajlun Castle(Qalat al Rabad)

, Jordan

 

Ajlun, an Islamic castle, was built in 1183-1184, during the rule of Saladin. The castle was briefly taken by the Mongols in 1260, then reoccupied (1262) by the Mamlukes under Sultan Baybars.

Ajlun is located about 50km north of Amman, near Jarash. Its foundations measure about 100m on a side. The entrance was originally approached by a drawbridge, now a footbridge (D). Other defenses included machicolations (A), sloped glacis above a fosse (B), and arrow slits (C).

Byzantine Tower (c. 600 AD)

Barracks ("Later Castellum") 

Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

 

The three-story tower is provided with three ground-level entrances . An external staircase, photo left, ascends to a projecting platform that gives access to the second level entrance. 

Entrance

North Side, Qasr al-Abd, Jordan

 

The entrance to the building is a small courtyard fronted by two columns. Two additional columns, engaged on either side, complete the entrance facade. A mirror-image facade on the south side was added for reasons of symmetry, but did not serve as an entrance.