Publication Date
Around the year 110/728
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;jo;Mon01;33;ar
Library Location
The Grand Gate is located in the center of Amman, in the Amman Citadel, Amman Citadel, Jordan
Date
Around the year 110/728
Notes
The northern terrace of the Citadel Mountain is occupied by a group of official buildings (the Emirate House) that were built after AH 101/720. This group includes three distinct architectural elements, from south to north: the great gate, which was at the same time the reception hall, an open courtyard in which there is a colonnaded street surrounded by nine residential units, and the official reception hall of the governor. The great gate takes a shape close to a square, its dimensions are 26 m x 25 m, and its layout follows the shape of a cross. Greek. This building is entered through an entrance in the southern wall that leads to steps that in turn lead to a central courtyard. The arms of the cross extend from this center, which are covered with barrel vaults. The two vaults covering the eastern and western arms each end with a semi-dome, at the bottom of which is a semicircular apse. Such squinches were placed in the corners to facilitate the construction of the dome over a square base. But here in the Great Gate the apses do not perform a practical function, and are therefore known as false apses. On the entrance axis there is another gate that leads to the outside - or, more precisely, to the inside, where the official buildings are. A decorative band was carved into the walls surrounding the central courtyard, in which were engraved blind horseshoe-shaped bands, the arches of which rest on double semi-columns. These facades of energies are engraved with geometric patterns and distorted plant shapes, on which remains of paint appear. Four rooms were built in the corners of the building, roofed with barrel vaults. The two rooms located on the southern side are entered from inside the building, while the two rooms located on the northern side are entered from the outside - from the open courtyard that follows the Great Gate. It should be noted here that the Great Gate was built on top of a previous building dating back to the beginning of the 5th century AD. In its layout, roofing, and decoration, this gate reflects influences from Mesopotamia, confirming the close artistic ties with Iraq.
Sample Text
Mohammad Najjar “The Great Gate” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;jo;Mon01;33;ar