Qasr Al-Hallabat

Originally a Roman fortress constructed under Emperor Caracalla to protect its inhabitants from Bedouin tribes, this site dates to the second and third century AD, although there is trace evidence of Nabatean presence at the site.. Visit & Explore Qasr Al-Hallabat

Qasr al Hallabat

An old palace in the Zarqa Governorate of north-western Jordan. The complex of Qasr al-Hallabat was originally a Roman fortress constructed under Emperor Caracalla to protect its inhabitants from Bedouin tribes, this site dates to the second and 3rd century AD. By the 8th century, the Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ordered for the Roman structures to be demolished in order to redevelop this military site and its neighboring territory to become one of the grandest of all Umayyad desert complexes.

Qasr al-Hallabat is named after the Umayyad desert castle located there, it is one of the most important structures with geometric mosaic pavements in Jordan.
The site This considerable complex includes the qasr itself, a mosque, a large reservoir, cisterns, an agricultural enclosure and a bath house. New excavations at the qasr and the mosque have led to a reassessment of the history of the site.
The mosaic artists at Qasr al-Hallabat possessed great technical skill. Comparative study of the decorative
elements increases our understanding of the relationship between Qasr al-Castal and Byzantine sites.
From 2002 to 2013, the Spanish Archaeological Mission in Jordan realized a long-term excavation, restoration and musealization project, directed by Dr. Ignacio Arce. Included was the systematic collection of all the remaining inscribed stone blocks, that are a very special attraction at Qasr Al Hallabat. They contain a legal text related to the military organization of the eastern border of the Byzantine Empire, decreeded by imperial court at Constantinople in the reign of Emperor Anastasius I (491 – 518 AD).

An old palace in the Zarqa Governorate of north-western Jordan. The complex of Qasr al-Hallabat was originally a Roman fortress constructed under Emperor Caracalla to protect its inhabitants from Bedouin tribes, this site dates to the second and 3rd century AD. By the 8th century, the Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ordered for the Roman structures to be demolished in order to redevelop this military site and its neighboring territory to become one of the grandest of all Umayyad desert complexes.

Qasr al-Hallabat is named after the Umayyad desert castle located there, it is one of the most important structures with geometric mosaic pavements in Jordan.
The site This considerable complex includes the qasr itself, a mosque, a large reservoir, cisterns, an agricultural enclosure and a bath house. New excavations at the qasr and the mosque have led to a reassessment of the history of the site.

The mosaic artists at Qasr al-Hallabat possessed great technical skill. Comparative study of the decorative
elements increases our understanding of the relationship between Qasr al-Castal and Byzantine sites.
From 2002 to 2013, the Spanish Archaeological Mission in Jordan realized a long-term excavation, restoration and musealization project, directed by Dr. Ignacio Arce. Included was the systematic collection of all the remaining inscribed stone blocks, that are a very special attraction at Qasr Al Hallabat. They contain a legal text related to the military organization of the eastern border of the Byzantine Empire, decreeded by imperial court at Constantinople in the reign of Emperor Anastasius I (491 – 518 AD).