Qasr Amra
Qasr Amra (Arabic: قصر عمرة / ALA-LC: Qaṣr ‘Amrah), often Quseir Amra or Qusayr Amra, is the best-known of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan. It was built early in the 8th century (probably between 711 and 715) by the Umayyad caliph Walid I whose dominance of the region was rising at the time. It is considered one of the most important examples of early Islamic art and architecture.
The building is actually the remnant of a larger complex that included an actual castle, of which only the foundation remains. What stands today is a small country cabin, meant as a royal retreat, without any military function. It is most notable for the frescoes that remain on the ceilings inside, which depict hunting, naked women and, above one bath chamber, an accurate representation of the zodiac. These have led to its designation as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, one of three in the country. That status, and its location along Jordan's major east-west highway, relatively close to Amman, have made it a frequent tourist destination.
Building:-
South (rear) view, from highway
Qasr Amra is located on the north side of Jordan 's Highway 40, roughly 85 kilometres (53 mi) from Amman
It is a low building made from limestone and basalt. The northern block, two stories high, features a triple-vaulted ceiling over the main entrance on the east facade. The western wings feature smaller vaults or domes.
Today, Qasr Amra is in a poorer condition than the other desert castles, with graffiti damaging some frescos. However, restoration projects are underway.
History:-
One of the six kings depicted is King Roderick of Spain
Both spent long periods of time away from Damascus
The abandoned structure was re-discovered by Alois Musil in 1898, with the frescoes made famous in drawings by an Austrian artist named Mielich for Musil's book. In the late 1970s a Spanish team restored the frescoes. The castle was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 under criteria i), iii), and iv) ("masterpiece of human creative genius", "unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition" and "an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history").
Frescoes:-
Apodyterium fresco
Qusayr Amra is most notable for the frescoes on the inside walls. The main entry vault has scenes of hunting, fruit and wine consumption, and naked women. Some of the animals shown are not abundant in the region but were more commonly found in Persia Berlin 's Pergamon Museum
An image known as the "six kings" depicts the caliph with other regional rulers. Its intent was unclear until conservators in the late 1970s discovered the Greek word "NHKH", or nike, meaning victory, nearby. It was concluded that the "six kings" image was meant to suggest the caliph's supremacy over his enemies.
The apodyterium, or changing room, is decorated with scenes of animals engaging in human activities, particularly performing music. One ambiguous image has an angel gazing down on a shrouded human form. It has often been thought to be a death scene, but some other interpretations have suggested the shroud covers a pair of lovers. Three blackened faces on the ceiling have been thought to represent the stages of life. Christians in the area believe the middle figure is Jesus Christ.
On the walls and ceiling of the tepidarium, or warm bath, are scenes of plants and trees similar to those in the mosaic at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
It is believed to be the earliest image of the night sky painted on anything other than a flat surface. The radii emerge not from the dome's center but, accurately, from the north celestial pole. The angle of the zodiac is depicted accurately as well. The only error discernible in the surviving artwork is the counterclockwise order of the stars, which suggests the image was copied from one on a flat surface.
Naked woman
The frescoes in all rooms but the caldarium reflect the advice of contemporary Arab physicians. They believed that baths drained the spirits of the bathers, and that to revive "the three vital principles in the body, the animal, the spiritual and the natural," the bath's walls should be covered with pictures of activities like hunting, of lovers, and of gardens and palm trees.
Zodiac painting on caldarium dome
Français......................................................................................................................................................
Qusair Amra (en arabe : قصير عمرة, quṣayr ʿamra , « petit palais ») est le plus célèbre des châteaux du désert de l'Est jordanien. C'est l'un des exemples les plus remarquables du premier art omeyyade et de l'architecture islamique.
Qasr Amra (Arabic: قصر عمرة / ALA-LC: Qaṣr ‘Amrah), often Quseir Amra or Qusayr Amra, is the best-known of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan. It was built early in the 8th century (probably between 711 and 715) by the Umayyad caliph Walid I whose dominance of the region was rising at the time. It is considered one of the most important examples of early Islamic art and architecture.
The building is actually the remnant of a larger complex that included an actual castle, of which only the foundation remains. What stands today is a small country cabin, meant as a royal retreat, without any military function. It is most notable for the frescoes that remain on the ceilings inside, which depict hunting, naked women and, above one bath chamber, an accurate representation of the zodiac. These have led to its designation as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, one of three in the country. That status, and its location along Jordan's major east-west highway, relatively close to Amman, have made it a frequent tourist destination.
Building:-
South (rear) view, from highway
Qasr Amra is located on the north side of Jordan 's Highway 40, roughly 85 kilometres (53 mi) from Amman
It is a low building made from limestone and basalt. The northern block, two stories high, features a triple-vaulted ceiling over the main entrance on the east facade. The western wings feature smaller vaults or domes.
Traces of stone walls used to enclose the site suggest it was part of a 25-hectare (62-acre) complex; there are remains of a castle which could have temporarily housed a garrison of soldiers. Just to the southeast of the building is a well 40 metres (130 ft) deep, and traces of the animal-driven lifting mechanism and a dam have been found as well.
Today, Qasr Amra is in a poorer condition than the other desert castles, with graffiti damaging some frescos. However, restoration projects are underway.
History:-
One of the six kings depicted is King Roderick of Spain
Both spent long periods of time away from Damascus
The abandoned structure was re-discovered by Alois Musil in 1898, with the frescoes made famous in drawings by an Austrian artist named Mielich for Musil's book. In the late 1970s a Spanish team restored the frescoes. The castle was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 under criteria i), iii), and iv) ("masterpiece of human creative genius", "unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition" and "an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history").
Frescoes:-
Apodyterium fresco
Qusayr Amra is most notable for the frescoes on the inside walls. The main entry vault has scenes of hunting, fruit and wine consumption, and naked women. Some of the animals shown are not abundant in the region but were more commonly found in Persia
Near the base of one wall a haloed king is shown on a throne. An adjoining section, now in Berlin 's Pergamon Museum
An image known as the "six kings" depicts the caliph with other regional rulers. Its intent was unclear until conservators in the late 1970s discovered the Greek word "NHKH", or nike, meaning victory, nearby. It was concluded that the "six kings" image was meant to suggest the caliph's supremacy over his enemies.
The apodyterium, or changing room, is decorated with scenes of animals engaging in human activities, particularly performing music. One ambiguous image has an angel gazing down on a shrouded human form. It has often been thought to be a death scene, but some other interpretations have suggested the shroud covers a pair of lovers. Three blackened faces on the ceiling have been thought to represent the stages of life. Christians in the area believe the middle figure is Jesus Christ.
On the walls and ceiling of the tepidarium, or warm bath, are scenes of plants and trees similar to those in the mosaic at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
It is believed to be the earliest image of the night sky painted on anything other than a flat surface. The radii emerge not from the dome's center but, accurately, from the north celestial pole. The angle of the zodiac is depicted accurately as well. The only error discernible in the surviving artwork is the counterclockwise order of the stars, which suggests the image was copied from one on a flat surface.
Naked woman
The frescoes in all rooms but the caldarium reflect the advice of contemporary Arab physicians. They believed that baths drained the spirits of the bathers, and that to revive "the three vital principles in the body, the animal, the spiritual and the natural," the bath's walls should be covered with pictures of activities like hunting, of lovers, and of gardens and palm trees.
Zodiac painting on caldarium dome
Français......................................................................................................................................................
Qusair Amra (en arabe : قصير عمرة, quṣayr ʿamra , « petit palais ») est le plus célèbre des châteaux du désert de l'Est jordanien. C'est l'un des exemples les plus remarquables du premier art omeyyade et de l'architecture islamique.
Géographie
Le château se trouve au bord de la route n° 40, à environ 85 kilomètres d'Amman, et à environ 21 kilomètres d'Al-Azraq. Le site est aujourd'hui protégé et clôturé, et fait partie des biens culturels gérés par le Ministère jordanien du Tourisme et des Antiquités.
Histoire
Qusair Amara a été construit au début du viiie siècle (probablement entre 711 et 715) par le calife Omeyyade Walid I dont la domination progressait à l'époque dans cette région). Longtemps à l'état d'abandon, il a été redécouvert par Alois Musil en 1898.
Description
Le château, qui aurait été utilisé comme lieu de villégiature par le calife ou par ses princes pour le sport et le plaisir, est couvert de fresquesdécrivant des scènes de chasse (de mammifères que la chasse a conduit depuis à l'extinction au Proche-Orient), des fruits et des femmes. Il contient également un système thermal divisé en trois pièces, témoignant d'une influence romaine.
Classement au Patrimoine mondial par l'UNESCO
Les longues années d'abandon ont provoqué une grave déterioration de la décoration : les fresques sont endommagées par des graffitis. Des projets de restauration sont en cours. Le puits et le système d'adduction sont visibles. Il a été désigné patrimoine de l'humanité de l'UNESCO en 1985, sur la base des critères i), iii) et iv) (« chef d'œuvre du génie créatif humain », « témoignage unique ou pour le moins exceptionnel d'une tradition culturelle », et « exemple remarquable d'un type de bâtiment, d'ensemble architectural ou technologique ou paysage illustrant une étape significative de l'histoire humaine .
Variantes orthographiques
La translittération de l'arabe donne lieu à diverses variantes : Quseir Amra, Qasr Amrah, Qasayr Amra and Qasr Amra.
العربية
قصر عمرة أو قصير عمرة هو قصر صحراوي أموي يقع في شمال الصحراء
الأردنية في منطقة الأزرق في محافظة الزرقاء حوالي 75 كم شرقي عمان بناؤه صغير نسبياً لذلك يُسمّيه البعض بالقصير.
تاريخه
شيد القصر في عهد الخليفة الوليد بن عبد الملك سادس الخلفاء الأمويين 705 – 715 م. ويعتقد أن القصر كان يستخدم لرحلات الصيد التي يقوم بها الخلفاء وأمراء بني أمية.
عمارته
يتكون القصر من قاعة استقبال مستطيلة الشكل ذات عقدين يقسمانها إلى ثلاثة أروقة لكل رواق قبو نصف دائري ويتصل الرواق الأوسط في الجهة الجنوبية بحنية كبيرة على جانبيها غرفتانصغيرتان تطلاّن على حديقتين كانتا تستخدمان للقيلولة. تزدان أرضية الغرف والقاعة بالفسيفساء التي تمثّل زخارف نباتية. أما الغُرَف الأخرى فمكسوة بالرخام.
للقصر حمام مجاور لقاعة الاستقبال يتكون من ثلاث قاعات، اثنتان مسقوفتان بأقبية نصف دائرية والثالثة مسقوف بقبة صغيرة. يتكون الحمام، الذي لا زال بحالة جيدة، من ثلاث قاعات: باردة وفاترة وساخنة، الأخيرة مزودة بأنابيب للبخار. ملحق بالحمام غرفة كبيرة لخلع الملابس مزودة بمقصورتين.
زود القصر أيضا بشبكة مائية تمر من تحته، ففي ساحة القصر هناك بئر ماءعمقها 40 متراً وبقطر 1.8 متر تتسع البئر ل 100 متر مكعب من الماء الذي كان يملأ من وادي البطم عندما يهطل المطر وتنساب المياة في ذلك الوادي كان يتم رفع الماء منها بواسطة ساقية قديمة يوضع في خزان ماءبجانب البئر وكان الماء ينساب في خطان احدهما يتجة إلى الساحة الداخلية ليغذي النافورة الموجودة على يسار المدخل وخط ليزود الحمام وغرفة الحمام في انابيب فخارية.
الزخرفة
على جدران القصر رسوما تجسيدية ونقوشات عديدة، مواضيعها تتعدد من مشاهد من رحلات الصيد والحيوانات التي وجدت في المنطقة في تلك الحقبة، ومنها الأسود والنمور والغزلان والنعام، قبة الحمام تظهر فيها الأبراج السماوية المرسومة يتميز بهندسته ويشبه الحمامات الرومانية بشكلها ومكوناتها.
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