Publication Date
2nd century AH/8AD AD
Publication Place
-
Department of Public Antiquities
Subject
Basalt stone blocks engraved with various shapes and decorations.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
القطعة أ: العرض: 46 سم؛ القطر: 18سم؛ الارتفاع: 13سم. القطعة ب: العرض: 47.5 سم؛ القطر: 19سم؛ الارتفاع: 41.5 سم. القطعة ج: العرض: 45 سم؛ القطر: 13سم؛ الارتفاع:34 سم. القطعة د: العرض: 58.5 سم؛ القطر: 17.5سم؛ الارتفاع: 52 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
A829, A825, A827, A822
Record ID
object;ISL;jo;Mus01_C;18;ar
Library Location
Jordanian Heritage Museum - Yarmouk University
Date
2nd century AH/8AD AD
Notes
The four basalt stone blocks shown here form part of a group of similar blocks found submerged in the waters of the South Blue Pool. It represents part of the arts borrowed from the classical world before the Islamic conquests, as it includes plant and animal forms, such as the hunting dog (saluki), the griffon (which combines the head of a dog, the claws of a lion, and a modified tail taken from the tail of a peacock) and the winged horse, in addition to a narrow-necked round vase decorated with flowers. We find similar images in Byzantine mosaic floors, as well as in older arts such as Greek, Roman, and Sassanid art. Despite the difficulty of carving on solid basalt stone, some of the decorative elements were characterized by movement and vitality. It appears from the way the sides or edges of these basalt blocks were cut at sometimes oblique angles and sometimes sharp angles that they were interconnected and overlapping to form an arch (or arches), and were standing above the platform for spectators who were sitting to watch the water games near the water tank in Azraq.
Sample Text
Aida Naghawy “Four Basalt Relief Sculptures” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;jo;Mus01_C;18;ar
