Amman

Jordan's modern capital, Amman is steeped in biblical history known as the capital of the Ammonites as Rabbath Ammon, and as Philadelphia in the Roman rule, it became the southern Greco-Roman city of the Decapolis. A Roman amphitheater with capacity of 8000 spectator's .The citadel which still standing with its columns & numerous Roman-Byzantine & Islamic remains. Excavations showed that Amman goes back 9,000 years from Neolithic - Roman- Greco - Byzantine to Islamic .Remains of churches & Umayyad Palace, The Archaeological museum with some of Dead Sea scrolls & Islamic treasures and the Popular Traditions museum.

Qasr Amra

Amra, Jordan

 

The desert complex of Qasr Amra is located about 100km east of Amman and 20km south of Azraq. It was built in the early 8th century by an Umayyad ruler or prince: perhaps Walid I (705-715), builder of the Great Mosque in Damascus; or alternatively the pleasure-loving Walid II (743-744), during his long exile in the desert, before he became caliph.

The restored buildings consist of a triple-vaulted audience hall (right) with attached bathhouse and waterworks (left). They are seen here from the front (north). The inside is covered with rare but very deteriorated wall paintings, that depict scenes of pleasure in a style influenced by Classical and Byzantine traditions.

Alternate spellings include Qusayr or Quseir for Qasr, and Amrah for Amra.

français.................................................................

 Le complexe désert de Qasr Amra est situé à environ 100 km à l'est d'Amman et 20km au sud de Azraq. Il a été construit dans le début du 8ème siècle par un prince souverain omeyyade ou: peut-être Walid Ier (705-715), constructeur de la Grande Mosquée de Damas, ou encore le plaisir d'amour-Walid II (743-744), au cours de son long exil dans le désert, avant qu'il ne devienne calife.

Les bâtiments restaurés se composent d'un public triple salle voûtée (à droite) avecétablissement de bains ci-jointe et d'adduction d'eau (à gauche). On les voit ici à l'avant(au nord). L'intérieur est recouvert de peintures murales rares, mais très dégradé, quidépeignent des scènes de plaisir dans un style influencé par les traditions classiques et byzantines.

Les variantes orthographiques Qusayr ou Quseir pour Qasr, et Amrah pour Amra.

italiano........................................................................................................................................................

Il complesso deserto di Qasr Amra si trova a circa 100km ad est di Amman e 20 km a sud di Azraq. E 'stato costruito agli inizi del secolo ottavo da parte di un sovrano o principe omayyade: forse Walid I (705-715), costruttore della Grande Moschea di Damasco, o in alternativa, il gaudente Walid II (743-744), durante il suo lungo esilio nel deserto, prima di diventare califfo.

Gli edifici restaurati sono costituiti da una tripla volta Aula (a destra) con annessostabilimento balneare e giochi d'acqua (a sinistra). Sono visti qui di fronte (nord).L'interno è ricoperto da pitture murali rari ma molto deteriorato, che raffigurano scene dipiacere in uno stile influenzato dalla tradizione classica e bizantina.

Varianti includono Qusayr o Quseir per Qasr e Amrah per Amra.

español........................................................................................................................................................

El complejo desierto de Qasr Amra está situado a unos 100 kilometros al este de Ammán y 20 kilómetros al sur de Azraq. Fue construido en el siglo 8 por un gobernanteo príncipe omeya: tal vez Walid I (705-715), constructor de la Gran Mezquita de Damasco, o, alternativamente, el amante de los placeres Walid II (743-744), durante su largo exilio en el desierto, antes de que él se convirtió en califa.

Los edificios restaurados consisten en una audiencia de triple bóveda de la sala (derecha) con baños adjunto y abastecimiento de agua (izquierda). Se ve aquí desde el frente (norte). El interior está cubierto con pinturas murales muy raras, aunque deteriorados, que representan escenas de placer con un estilo influenciado por la tradición clásica y bizantina.

Variantes incluyen Qusayr o Quseir de Qasr, y Amrah de Amra.

Deutsch.......................................................................................................................................................

Die Wüste Komplex von Qasr Amra liegt etwa 100km östlich von Amman und 20 km südlich von Azraq entfernt. Es wurde im frühen 8. Jahrhundert von einemUmayyaden-Herrscher oder Fürst gebaut: vielleicht Walid I. (705-715), Erbauer der Großen Moschee in Damaskus, oder alternativ die vergnügungssüchtigen Walid II. (743-744), während seines langen Exils in der Wüste, bevor er zum Kalifen.

Die restaurierten Gebäude bestehen aus einem dreifach gewölbten Audienzhalle(rechts) mit angebautem Badehaus und Wasserwerke (links). Sie werden hier von der Vorderseite (N) zu sehen. Die Innenseite ist mit seltenen, aber sehr verschlechtertemWandmalereien, die Szenen der Freude zeigen und im Stil von klassischen undbyzantinischen Traditionen beeinflusst abgedeckt.

Alternative Schreibweisen gehören Qusayr oder Quseir für Qasr und Amrah für Amra

ελληνικά.....................................................................................................................................................

Το συγκρότημα του Κασρ έρημο Amra βρίσκεται περίπου 100 χιλιόμετρα ανατολικά τουΑμάν και 20 χιλιόμετρα νότια της Azraq. Χτίστηκε στις αρχές του 8ου αιώνα, από ένανχάρακα ή Umayyad πρίγκιπα: ίσως Ουαλίντ Ι (705-715), οικοδόμος της Μεγάλης Τζαμίστη Δαμασκό? Ή, εναλλακτικά, την ευχαρίστηση που αγαπούν Ουαλίντ ΙΙ (743-744), κατά τη διάρκεια της μακράς εξορίας του στην έρημο, πριν γίνει χαλίφης.

Τα αναπαλαιωμένα κτίρια αποτελούνται από ένα τριπλό-θολωτή αίθουσα ακροατήριο(δεξιά) με συνημμένη λουτρά και ύδρευσης (αριστερά). Έχουν δει εδώ από τηνμπροστινή (βόρεια). Το εσωτερικό είναι καλυμμένο με σπάνιες αλλά πολύυποβαθμισμένες τοιχογραφίες, που απεικονίζουν σκηνές της απόλαυσης σε ένα ύφοςεπηρεάζεται από κλασική και τη βυζαντινή παράδοση.

Αναπληρωματικό ορθογραφίες περιλαμβάνουν Qusayr ή Quseir για Κασρ, και Amrahγια Amra.

Byzantine Cross

West Church, Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

 

This Byzantine cross has been inscribed as decoration on the inner surface of an arch. It's a variant of the equal-armed "Greek Cross," which is basically just a "plus sign." The more elaborate version here may refer to the four quarters of the world. 

français.......................................................................................................................................................

croix byzantine

Ouest église, Umm al-Jimal, la Jordanie 

Cette croix byzantine a été inscrit en tant que décoration sur la surface intérieure d'un arc. Il s'agit d'une variante de l'égalité des armes "croix grecque", ce qui est fondamentalement juste un "signe plus." La version plus élaborée ici peut se référer auxquatre coins du monde. 

italiano........................................................................................................................................................

Croce bizantina

Occidente Chiesa, Umm al-Jimal, Giordania

Questa croce bizantina è stata iscritta come decorazione sulla superficie interna di un arco. E 'una variante della parità delle armi "croce greca", che è fondamentalmente soloun "segno più". La versione più elaborata qui possono fare riferimento ai quattro angoli del mondo.

español........................................................................................................................................................

Cruz bizantina

Oeste Iglesia, Umm al-Yimal, Jordania

Esta cruz bizantina ha sido inscrito como decoración en la superficie interior de un arco.Es una variante de la de brazos iguales "cruz griega", que es básicamente un "signo más". La versión más elaborada aquí puede referirse a los cuatro puntos cardinales del mundo.

Deutsch.......................................................................................................................................................

byzantinische Kreuz

Westen Kirche, Umm al-Jimal, Jordanien

Das byzantinische Kreuz hat als Dekoration auf der Innenseite eines Bogenseingeschrieben. Es ist eine Variante des gleichen einarmigen "griechischen Kreuzes",das ist im Grunde nur ein "Plus-Zeichen." Die aufwendigere Version hier kann zu den vier Enden der Welt beziehen

ελληνικά.....................................................................................................................................................

Βυζαντινή Σταυρού

Δύση Εκκλησία, Ουμ αλ-Jimal, Ιορδανία

Η Βυζαντινή αυτή σταυρό έχει εγγραφεί ως διακόσμηση στην εσωτερική επιφάνεια τουτόξου. Είναι μια παραλλαγή της ίσης ένοπλης «Ελληνική Σταυρό", το οποίο είναιουσιαστικά μόνο ένα «θετικό πρόσημο». Η πιο επεξεργασμένη εκδοχή εδώ μπορεί να παραπέμπει στα τέσσερα τέταρτα του κόσμου.

....................................................................................................................................................................

Corbel Roof

West Church, Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

 

A corbeled roof, in which long cantilevered stones support the span of the ceiling, covers a side room off the apse. Vaults and domes were well-known to the architects of Umm al-Jimal, but corbeling is practical for small rooms because one doesn't have to construct a scaffolding. The possibility has also been raised that

corbeling at Umm al-Jimal may be a product, at least in some cases, of 20th century repairs by the Druze. 

South Arcade

West Church, Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

 

An arcade, a series of arches supported on piers, separates the nave of the church from the side aisle. It is seen here from inside the church. The wall above is pierced by clerestory windows, one of which is seen in the photo.

Umm al-Jimal has about fifteen churches, one for every 200 people. The churches were built in the 6th century AD.

Shutter Sockets

 

Three-Story Byzantine Tower 

Barracks ("Later Castellum") 

Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

The circular holes in the lintel are shutter sockets. The thin slots in the window frame are for inserting a metal grid, to help secure the tower while still admitting light and air.

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. 

Barracks ("Later Castellum")

Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

 

The provincial town of Umm al-Jimal, 50km northeast of Amman, was garrisoned by Roman soldiers from about 200 AD onward. This triggered an expansion of trade and commerce, until by 500 AD the town could boast a population of three or four thousand people. The precincts were gradually abandoned following the 7th century Arab conquest and 8th century earthquakes, although they were briefly re-occupied by the French Army in the 1920s, and by the Druze in the 1930s.

This view from the east shows the Roman fort, dated 412/413, that was built in the south end of town (not to be confused with an earlier castellum in the northeast part of town). The fort was constructed, like the rest of the town, from the abundant local stone of black basalt. It consists of a wall surrounding an inner courtyard (the barracks rooms were built on the inside of the wall), and two later Byzantine towers that were added around 600 AD. The first tower is seen to the left in this photo.

Olive Press

Qasr al-Abd, Jordan

 

This olive press is a tangible reminder of the economic basis of any great estate, which was required to be largely self-sufficient and contribute to the wealth of the owner. 

Lioness with Cub

West Upper Facade (NW corner), Qasr al-Abd, Jordan

 

The corners of the upper facade are decorated with relief carvings of lionesses suckling their cubs, such as the one seen here. 

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. 

Leopard Fountain

East Wall, Qasr al-Abd, Jordan

 

At the base of each long wall is a fountain, carved in the shape of a leopard with raised paw. The mottling of the stone seems to mimic the leopard's spotted coat, although this may be an artifact of repair. 

East Wall

Qasr al-Abd, Jordan

 

Qasr al-Abd is a rare example of Hellenistic building in the Transjordan. Perhaps intended as a pleasure palace, it was erected about 200 BC by a Tobiad notable, Hyrcanus of Jerusalem, as part of a much larger estate that is now covered by the village of Iraq al-Emir. The Qasr was originally surrounded by a large excavated reflecting pool (or moat, according to the 1st century AD Jewish historian Josephus, who considered the Qasr to be a fortress; its tentative identification as a pleasure palace is due to the contemporary Israeli archaeologist, Ehud Netzer.)

Hyrcanus took his own life in 175 BC, having come out on the wrong side of the conflict between Ptolemies and Seleucids for control of the area. The Qasr was unfinished at his death, as indicated by several incomplete carvings and columns on site. The building has two storys, and is about 125 feet long, 62 feet wide, and 40 feet high. It is located 17km (10mi) west of Amman.

Roman Theatre

Amman, Jordan

Here is a precipitous view of nearly the whole theatre, as seen from close to the top. The highest section of seats in a theatre was (and still is) called "The Gods," for reasons evident here. Although far from the stage, even here the sightlines are excellent, and the actors could be clearly heard, owing to the steepness of the cavea.

Dome of the Vestibule

Citadel, Amman, Jordan
The interior of the dome of the Umayyad vestibule is shown here. This is a modern recreation; the original dome's interior would have been painted and plastered, giving a much different appearance.

Cistern

Citadel, Amman, Jordan
This large cistern, located to the right of the vestibule, was the primary water supply to the governor's palace. At 5m deep and 16m in diameter, it would have held just over 1,000 cubic meters, or approximately 250,000 gallons, of water. The cistern was fed by rainwater through an inlet channel, and could be entered for maintenance by the stairs shown in the photo. A column, whose stump is standing at the bottom of the cistern, measured the water level.

Umayyad Mosque

Citadel, Amman, Jordan

This view looking north shows the domed entrance (vestibule) to the Umayyad governor's palace (8th century) in the background. The dome is a modern reconstruction that gives the building an odd, Pac-Man-like appearance. The entrance to the vestibule is the large semicircular archway below the dome. In the foreground are the remains of the palace mosque, whose column bases surround an open courtyard. A short section of the mosque's wall has been reerected here.

The photo makes it clear that the axis of the vestibule is not aligned with the axis of the mosque, which nominally points in the direction of Mecca. There doesn't seem to be any obvious reason why the vestibule could not have been lined up with the mosque, although I suppose there is no architectural rule that would have required it to do so.

Byzantine Church

Citadel, Amman, Jordan
The Byzantine basilica was constructed in the 5th-6th centuries AD. Its nave is flanked by two rows of columns. The photo looks eastwards from the entrance down the length of the nave, towards the partially reconstructed semicircular wall of the apse.

Temple of Hercules

Citadel, Amman, Jordan
The temple, described on the previous page, is viewed here from the rear (northwest corner). The temple itself is 31m long by 26m wide; its outer temenos (sacred precinct) measures 122x72 meters.

Temple of Hercules

Citadel, Amman, Jordan
The great temple of Hercules (Herakles) was built between 162-166 AD. Larger than any temple in Rome itself, the massive structure faces east and is seen here from the front (northeast corner.) The temple portico is framed by six 33-foot tall columns. The absence of columns on the rest of the structure, has convinced the excavator that the temple was actually left unfinished. A model of the temple is displayed at ACOR, the American Center for Oriental Research in Amman.