Qasr Al-Hallabat

Qasr Al-Hallabat, located 30 km from Zarka and 60 km from Amman, is one of the most significant sites in the Near East to comprehend the cultural and socio-political shifts that gave rise to Islamic culture during the Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages period. This imposing structure is also one of the largest Umayyad Desert Castles.

Originally constructed as a small Roman fort to safeguard the Via Nova Trajana, a road stretching from Bosra to Aqaba in 106 A.D., the fort was part of the Limes Arabicus. In the 4th century A.D., it was expanded and turned into a fort with four corner towers, most likely under the leadership of Diocletian. The structure was severely damaged during an earthquake in 551 AD, and later transformed into a monastery and palace.

The main building, which is 44 meters on a side, has four rectangular corner towers, originally three stories high, and narrow slit windows. The northwest corner of the castle has a smaller and older fortress, consisting of a central courtyard and cistern surrounded by rooms. A rectangular mosque, which contains inscriptions stylistically dated to the first century of the Islamic era, is located adjacent to the visitor center. The Umayyads constructed or renovated at least five cisterns and a massive water reservoir to the west of the castle.

Excavations within the castle uncovered a total of 146 Greek inscriptions, along with two others in Nabataean and one in Safaitic, all engraved on regularly cut basalt stones. These Greek inscriptions belong to an edict issued by the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius (AD 491–518) for the administrative and economic re-organisation of Provincia Arabia. These inscribed stones were brought from a nearby settlement and re-used as a building material during the Umayyad period.

Today, the remains of Qasr Al-Hallabat reflect the grandeur of the Umayyad period. The palace was constructed with black basalt and limestone and features a square floorplan with towers at each corner. The main structures were decorated with mosaics, frescoes, and stucco carvings, depicting an assortment of animals. A complicated water system, including five cisterns and a large water reservoir, and a bathhouse were also constructed. Additionally, a nearby enclosed structure, probably used for agricultural purposes, still stands today.