QASR MSHATTA

THE WINTER PALACE, JORDAN

INTRODUCTION
Qasr Mshatta is located about 25 km to the south-west of Aman Jordan
Like Qasr Amra, Mshatta is also constructed in the Dessert
The best known feature of Mshatta is the southern faade which has
delicately carved frieze
For architectural historians, it is important for it combines western elements
with features derived from Sassanid (Persian) art
The area is seriously devastated and only some parts of the building have
remained
The delicate faade is shifted to Berlin, Germany

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The date and patronage of Qasr Mshatta is debated
It is generally attributed to the Ummayad period of Caliph Walid II Ibn Yazid
Walid II ruled for short period from 743-44 CE, and the building is erected in
this period
The building was also seriously damaged in an earthquake
The building was never finished and after he was murdered, the remained
incomplete
However, some researchers attributed the construction of Mshatta to the
Abbasid Period

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTATION
The remains Qasr Mshatta were excavated in 1840
The entrance faade was gifted by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hameed to the
Emperor Wilhelm of Germany
A large of this was shifted to Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum (now Bode Museum)
in 1903
It was reconstructed as a 33 meter long, 5 meter high, with two towers and
parts of the central gateway
In 1932, it was reconstructed in Pergamon Museum, Berlin
During Second World War, it was badly damaged of bombardment

FEATURES - PLAN
Qasr Mshatta was consisted of a large square enclosure (c. 140 meter)
It had 25 semi-circular towers including four buttress towers in the
enclosure wall
Internally, the square enclosure is divided into three equal longitudinal
strips
Only the central strip; running north-south, is developed
The developed portion has
a. Gateway Block: It has entrance, vaulted passageway, mosque, rooms, and small
courtyard
b. Central Courtyard: It is square in plan and has traces of a pond
c. Main Building: It has audience hall, throne chamber, and residential apartments

FEATURES GATEWAY BLOCK

Entrance is on the southern side
After entrance, there was a vaulted
passageway, leading to a small
courtyard
On the right side is the Qasr
mosque facing to southern (Qibla)
side
On either side, there are living
apartments; presumably, for
guards, dignitaries, and royal
entourages

FEATURES CENTRAL COURTYARD

Immediately after the small courtyard of Gateway Block, is the central
courtyard
It covers an area of 57 sq. meter
Nothing have been remained in the courtyard
Only traces of a rectangular pond
The large courtyard leads to the main building

FEATURES MAIN BUILDING

The main building of Qasr
Mshatta is constructed on the
northern side of enclosure
It had delicate triple-arched
entrance
The central arch was large (6.5
m)
The faade was decorated with
moulding; defining the shape of
arches within the rectangular
frame
Later on, it was reconstructed

FEATURES MAIN BUILDING

The central part of the main building
had a vaulted audience hall, measuring
21 m long
In front of the hall, was the throne
chamber
The chamber was flanked by apses on
three sides, and topped with a semicircular dome
On either side of the hall and throne
chamber are suites of four compounds,
comprised of barrel-vaulted rooms
Rooms were reserved for royal family

FEATURES - DECORATION
Qasr Mshatta had a best example
of early Islamic architecture
showing stonework and carved
plaster
Above the foundation, decorative
band were carved in stone
The main theme of decoration was
floral and geometrical motifs with
mythical animals and birds
Animal dcor is missing in the
mosque

FEATURES - DECORATION
Above the base a zigzag pattern;
forming triangles, (c. 2.85 m high)
Triangles have lined with pattern
strip
The center of upward triangle has
rosette patterns
It has been richly decorated dense
motifs in arabesque style
The downward triangle has a
hexafoil pattern

FEATURES - DECORATION
The floral decoration includes
densely carved bands with vinescrolls, acanthus leaves, and
arabesque motifs
Besides floral motifs, the structure is
embellished with mythical animals
and birds
These include griffins, peacocks,
lions, and pheasants
Animals and birds are arranged in
pair

FEATURES MATERIAL
Backed (burnt) bricks
Finely carved stone
Lime stone
Green stone (used only for decoration)