Author
Researchers have proven the participation of Aleppo architects, and the signature of an unknown craftsman, Abu al-Wajd, appears among the plaster decorations.
Author Original
أثبت الباحثون مشاركة المعماريين الحلبيين، كما يظهر توقيع حرفي غير معروف هو أبو الوجد ضمن الزخارف الجصية
Publication Date
610-599/ 14-1202
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;sy;Mon01;7;ar
Library Location
Damascus, Syria
Date
610-599/ 14-1202
Notes
The citadel was a city within the city, and was founded by the Seljuks in 469 / 1076 on the site of the Roman camp. Traces of Roman and Seljuk fortifications are still visible today, as are some fortifications added by Nur al-Din Mahmud ibn Zengi, who died in 569 / 1174. King Saif al-Din Abu Bakr completely rebuilt the citadel in the period 592-615/ 1196-1218, and despite the subsequent changes and the continuous use of the castle by the Mamluks and Ottomans, and during the modern periods, the mass of the castle built by Al-Adil remains as it was. The shape of the castle is almost rectangular, with dimensions reaching 220 x 150 meters, and its northern side deviates from the western side inward to accommodate the Barada River. The actual area of the castle is not visible from the outside due to its current location in the middle of the markets. The western and northern walls of the castle originally overlooked the open spaces outside the city, while the southern and eastern sides faced the city. The various stages of building the castle can be identified from the type of stones used, and the easiest to recognize are the stones that King Al-Adil used in rebuilding. He replaced the foundational Seljuk walls with large Roman stones, which he may have brought from the Temple of Jupiter adjacent to it. New Ayyubid towers were built outside the boundaries of the old Seljuk citadel, and a corridor was maintained between the two for communication purposes. This Ayyubid expansion at the expense of Seljuk fortifications can be identified in many Syrian castles, such as the Citadels of Bosra and Aleppo. The Damascus Citadel was famous for its numerous towers, which reached 16-17 towers, of which only 12 remain. It had four gates, one on each side, each with an adjacent side door. The most important strategic point was the northern gate, and its importance and defensive role are emphasized by the three surrounding towers, and its iron gate. Its indirect entrance, and the bridge passing over the moat. As for the eastern gate, it is the most beautiful from a technical point of view, as it was the official gate of the citadel, and it was the first gate to be located in half of Damascus, with its script decorations and beautiful colors. The restorers were able to show a group of decorative patterns on the muqarnas units, including colors from the Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman periods. The portal with muqarnas leads to a hall covered with nine vaults that was believed to be the throne room. It is a square hall with a central dome supported by thick supports bearing capitals from the Roman period. The relationship of this hall to the Ayyubid Palace still needs to be clarified, especially with important excavations still being carried out at the site. The Damascus Citadel, like other castles, was the headquarters of the ruling elite and the site of the Crusaders’ war, as observed during the siege of Damascus in 542/1148. In general, both the architecture and construction techniques reflect significant Aleppo influences.
Sample Text
Abd al-Razzaq Moaz, Zena Takieddine “Damascus Citadel” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;sy;Mon01;7;ar
