Qasr Al-Muwaqqar

Qasr Al-Muwaqqar is one of Jordan’s Desert Castles. Located approximately 20 kilometers from Amman on the way to Qasr Kharana and Qasr Amra, The site includes a large reservoir, which is still in use, and an Umayyad complex that once stood on the hill above the reservoir. Not much is known about the complex, as the remains are now in a state of disrepair and are used as livestock pens and dumping grounds.

Despite the lack of information about the complex, a few subterranean vaulted structures have survived until today, along with some low walls and paving between the village houses. Capitals from the Qasr have been found incorporated into modern houses across the town, and some have been salvaged and moved to several museums. Of particular importance is a capital with a Kufic inscription that reveals that the reservoir was built by order of the caliph Yazid II from 103/722-104/723. This capital is now housed in the Archaeological Museum on the Amman Citadel.

Close to the palace are even more archaic ruins of a Byzantine settlement, which have been partially excavated. Fragments of mosaic flooring and decorated lintels have been unearthed, along with evidence of a double wall running off diagonally from the south-western corner of the structure to the north-west.

One of the most interesting features of Qasr Al-Muwaqqar is the stone column capital that belongs to the water reservoir at the Umayyad palace. This capital is one of 18 capitals that once sat on the drums of the column, which were immersed in the pool, each with incised words indicating the number of cubits, thus forming a water gauge. The highest measurement is on the capital itself, being 15 cubits. The capital bears an Arabic inscription that reveals that the reservoir was built by order of the Yazid II and is decorated with acanthus leaves separated by paired volutes.