bros eee GHAZI Bi 1H FROM CASTELLUM TO PALATIUM: UMAYYAD MOSAIC PAVEMENTS FROM QASR AL-HALLABAT IN JORDAN (Quer al Hallaatissimated about 6D. to the northeast ‘of Amman and 12k. eat ofthe Via New Tra which ‘an from Bosra inthe north to Aqaba on the Red Sea in the south. The plan (Hg 1) consign ofa square, 44m. 10 the side, with square towers The entrance to the Bil ing gained by a single doorway inthe middle of the ‘cist wall I opens ito a pasagevay which leads to an ‘open courtyard pave with flagwones, Aeris of oblong id quae room surround three ses ofthe cours ‘The northwewern quadrant is occupied by an inner structure which ako consist of a central courtyard su rounded on allsdes except the south by asese of paral [cl roome Tn each courtyard there ea ete, Tn the course of five seasons of excavations earied out by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan between 1979and 1985, all the ooms along the Hort, south, snd ax walls were cleared to lour level. In addition eleven probe trenches were dg ftom flour level o bedrock Side the ooms and ouside the castle, The purpose of these small renches was to clarify the phase of the ca e's construction, especialy those preceding the last phase which is asigned on archaeological grounds to the Umayyad period” Unfortunately the original date of the castle's com struction remains an open question becaute the probe trenches produced no sherds which can be asgued to petiod earlier than the Umayyads, This would inicte {hat athe lst phate of construction the earlier occupa Sonal debris ane whatever floors existed within the cay ‘de were completely removed. That theve was a pre Umayjad building however, beyond any doubt ands confirmed by both ceramic evidence from outside the castle and by the fat thatthe enclosure an partion walls were set on the outer edges of earlier wal, The clearance work in the interior rooms uncovered a large muanber of carved and molded mones, woussl frieze, anda tol of 146 Greek inscriptions engraved on regulary cut baat blocks, the vast majority of which belong to che Eat of Anastasius’ The existence of 0 many inseribed stones, al reused as Bulli material, taites the question of whether they came fron a pre ‘Umayyad building on the sie or were brought from a nearby setement. seems thatthe later alternative i :moe likey co have been the ese. The siting up ofan Imperial edit in av outing fortzes such as Hallabat would appear anomalous wien one seca that ‘ments ofthe Edict of Anasasts were found in large set ements or toms sch ss Dear, ft and Salk in Southern Syria, Since only two insribed fragments "hough o belong tothe same edit were foul at Umm alma, whieh Murished in the late Roman and Bye tine periods, it may tentative be suggested that he est. 82m Fg. Qe stata Ground pan,0 con isnt edict had een transported to Hallaba and ase a building material. The implication Of this aswumption is that the dated inscriptions — Including the Latin inscripsion which refers tothe con struction of a nau emalon dated AD. 212 and the Greek inscription dated 4, 10% — can no longer be used for dating the stractral phases of the ease ‘Whatever the orginal date of consracion might be, the este was completely rebuilt inthe Umayyad period snd. provided with elaborate decorations in_carved cen, frescn printings, and colored mosaics” These {ecorains indicate a major change inthe Function of ‘the building and it transformation from a fortessintoa palatial residence. Infact the whole ares of Malahat Aerwenta remarkable development inthe Uasyad pe fiod when new structures were inioduced. These inchide an extremural monque, an agricultural enco- sure with an elaborate stem ofslaices, a age reser, find numerous underground cisterns, To dese might be fedded, though tot sated in the immediate vicinity ofthe cate, the bath comple, dhe Hanna Sarak" Tie excaations showed that all the rooms along the north, south, ad eax walls were originally paved with {monies but they had no noticeable indication functional ferentiation and many of the ‘mosaics sre x0 damaged tha only traces rai o shove they once existe, Some escape total destruction wien the collapse of heavy basalt slabs preserved portions of the original pavement, and, in wo instances (eooms 4 Fig 8. Anoop Dea om 4 and 11), the mosses fared much beter — rather lange sections of them have beer preserved. in this presente tion intend to dines only the momtcs which are sll ciently preserved to provid is witha iden of thei chat acter designs and mod of decoration, oom 4 Unfortunately only a few setions ofthe mosaic In dhe southeast comer including the surtound and porUMAYYAD MOSUC PHUEMENTS FROM QA ALHALLABAT a eee Fig hase bing ries, tions ofthe field proper, have been preserved, Akhough inuch of the original pavement was destroped, the pre served sections and the negate impressions left on the mortar beding low wo reconstruc the general ay ‘outof the original oor with a fai degree of accuracy? (fig. 2) const ofa surround decorated with geomear cal paterns based on the intelacng of aiagonal squares, Cieles, and half-icles. The cls atthe points of em tact of the diagonal squares are fled with diferent ‘Tui, including pomegranate, lemons, and some ater dur frit, pony a etheog or cron (bowed, The surround is bordered on the east and west bya and of alternating standing and hanging lone calves, The re ‘angular eld was divided into crear and eval compart. ‘ments inthe middle; hafcicles were paced long the border except atthe comers. The compartment were linked by loops snd the bands delineating these con partments and loops were decorated with simple Plated patern, “The met interesting Feature ofthis mosaic fsa group “ot tvey animals bird, and ish placed in spaces between, the iterlacing circles and oval 8 well ain the various compartments" The animals inelade an ore moving, slowly with head uplited (Hg. 3), the front part of fercelooking wo running at fall peed (fg. 4), hare nibbling bunch of rapes fig. 5), leopard depicted in anaggresive auitude, andthe legs of what appears to be an antelope. Other representational motifs include Prof paruidges facing each other in semicteular Panel evo birds in a formalized disposition, only one of ‘hich remains, an fish which is represented ia ively manner, but with no indication of wate. The animals reserved on this Gor reveal both high level of tec ical shill and a remarkable coer for plasty, mone ‘ment. and animated expression. They seem to have een distributed on the surfice both as angle figures and he radially arranged pars, ‘Room 1, The floor mosaic int room has disappeared ‘only four small patches wit incomplete motif remain. ‘These include the hind legs afaspated anim, possibly a leopard, and a humped care! of which only the legs and the lover front setion are preserved (ig. 6). The ‘outlines othe hump and the robe extending diagonally From the head can be taced cel thus indicating tat ‘originally dhe camel wa el by man” Fresco paintings ‘carved stucco complemerted the moss pavement to give this room an air of elegance and refinement, Stucco was found in small quantities Inside ad outside the entance wo room 10 from the couryand. This ind cates that stcco wae confined tothe decoration of the Felleving arch which irmoue the lintel ofthe door. vray opening into this oom. The fresco printings, the other han, were ase extesively to cover the ite- rior walls, Although ie paintel designs were predomi ant foal afew fragments were recovered that showed Thuman faces, the head of sina wth Tong, uprigha eats, pony a dog or ack, and a grifin (fig). om 1. This mos, which is markedly diferent in co tent orm, and sil from that in room 4, was preserved intact excep fora spall ection in the northeastern cor ner (ig. 8) Running along boider of mond pat terns are vine scrolls which feue fom four kano! placed atthe corners and enchse the eld proper. The Slender stem follow & wavy course, branching of into wea tradition which had long been established in the repervire of SyoPalestisian mostics from the Byzan~ ‘ine period. Mosaics trom the Mada region, for exam ple, offer close similarities both in the arvangement of ‘he various decorate elements and in the use of such Adetils asthe Teee of Lite, the animal, and the ies” However the combination ofall these elements into a Single large composition is unique. For somenne reared in the Byzantine tradition, dhe vocabulary ofthis mos floor would have been familar and comprehensible, but the combination ofthe various motifsand their transfer ence from their eccesasical context (chutch, chapel Coraptisty) woald have ena source of baflement, “The important question nated by this mostc: howe er, hat no 1 do with is protorypes and sources, but ‘th whether those borrowed lements had been asim lave, adapted to a new contest, and gen a specific ‘meaning, Unlike the mosaic foor in room 4, whic ean ‘nly he viewed from dillerert singles, this mosaic was meant be seen as a whole rom the entrance. As one ‘entered the room, one would have noticed that all he ‘motifs which have goor! oF postive connotations — the fruitbearing eres, the bul the ram, andthe birds — vere placed to the sight of the conta axis those that ‘yoke negative connotations — the bare ees, the lon, the snake, and the gat —wers placed tothe let Inthe Idle ofthe field, below che Tree of Lif, she ostrich boeing le from let wo right. The implication is that the right’ represen the good and bewed condition,5 con mises (@rving SM Balerone) whereas the Tet i associated with ev, Therefore, this tome can be given the sime interpretation as tha sg ested by Richard Etinghawsen for he wellknown ‘omic panel from Khirbat atMafjae: There under a large apple ce were depicted aon stacking a guzel, ‘none sie, and wo gazelles peacefully eating leaves, on thecaher Extinghausen su this a pietoral represent tion of the Islamic concept ofthe word, which was lived into Da al slam, where peaceand bis eigned, and Darabtarb, which had 1 be subdued and brought Into the fold of the abode of Islam. If this symbole interpretation is aceepable, it means that the choice of subject matter as not haphazard, ut was made with Ueiberaton and imposed on the mosaics by the Mus Tim ower of Qasr al Halla oom 24, The mesic Noor in his room is ange de- strayed, with only small acetons of dhe surround and the Feld being preserved (ig 9). These show that the whole ‘oor ws orginally taken up bya allover geometrical design which finds counterparts in the mowie pave- rents of Khithat alMafjar and alMinya. The design shows a surround of chai inf bordered by nartow bands of cable and diamont patterns. An inner narow band of braided strands provided a frame for the Held hich was decorated with diapers narrow plated bands, Alternately standing an hanging lous cles, and 2g tage. The side walle of ths room, which i centeally Tocated on the south se, were pitted with litle holes indicating thatthe entre val fares were reveted with ‘marble, of which numerous fragments were recovered ao 25. gain the mosaic Hoor in this room was largely destroyed. Remaining i a rarrow section of the border ‘and sal panel along the northern wal (ig. 10). The Femsining sections show a guilloche border and an inner marrow band of wave cescents framing the fed, ‘The fel a8 can be recarstructed from the negative impressions on the mortar bedding, was decorated with sll icin and triangles delineating a diagonal square inthe centerand nearly tisngular compartments atthe comers, obviously filled with rious mous Three halDDMArYAD MOSAIC PAVEMENTS PROM QA AL-EALLABAT 55 ig 18 Moi hort 25. (raving. M. Baldo) circles were placed along each side, the cential one being the luger One preserved smicitclar panel ue lined by semis includes a besutully rendered duck, ‘ough the web berneen the toes isnot indicated (ig 0). inspite of the fagmentary condition ofthe snosies ‘om Halla, the remaining portions ae stficent to show the ammaing diversity of syle, themes, and moti, Had ic not been forthe archaeological evidence, one ‘would be inclined to acsibute dhem to different periods noteworthy feature of the decorative scheme at Hall hats the extensive ws of mosaics to pave vitally all he rooms reyardless oftheir function oF importance. Most of thee pavements were clearly decorative, intended to Show the wealth and prominence of the qa’ omner, and to impress vistors and guess with its decorative splendor. In one case, howeerr, the choice of subject matter must have been determined by more than deco tative consideration. This suggests thatthe proprietor hd a sayin the subjects depicted and cove then o sat iy his own personal eae and tastes, Department Asis ‘Ava, Jodan Fig 1.4 ck. Del om 5 Nores Ant ote I epecly dice hi sy to Profesor Oke ‘ra ne igs nthe wed Ure es eat Iie ahs ben asus onan ame wel oe hic cabled me owe thi canton vile pedi the hacia em savant on Cale Oe Te For Ql Ber, Paladins of he Prine {Boy scion A ese 1908), p07. Kee tay “Achostgea upon oie Roman Fone Nona owen” nts Anko Rp oat Se On oa "ERO," Anna fhe Dnprtmet fAntuti fan 26 (1083) 1aS-4 stem “Quran te 9 ant im Enea Ant ncn 38 (200) 1812 Bae, "Samar af 98-89 nemo p82 J Murcer Recher nw Qo aes fh prof Aviat fan (99): BS, er, tes impos feces Hala ii, 28 (1989, 5, For rcemt ecroons at Ura afi see Be Vie seashell, 15-79 Ba re ‘gor (07). 1. om, “Te Urn efi Pes 1Wra-71" an fh Anon Sh fOr Sa 246 {U8 58-72 for the mo pon Babel eta ‘tin Cao Wg ri 17), 259s 1 Fathead "chic 1 Beh Second Semon of Esaon” and Sury of Ghats marl So inte Ligh of Recent xc ‘ans Damon alunge 08) 23h 2, heh “Second Sen fern” pp 7 ‘chan Armenian nero donee one Mn OF Thin Jem se Clermont CanneatAhepee!56 1 Racers is Pline (London, 19), sa 1 ese ing, ‘ois of Mt Nebo nd icin at Mis Mh he Mae: ear nM, 18) p18, 07 nie pn beter pp. 6 oT fils Summary of BS-90 Pscatonn” p89 Une de 8 wen ‘he moni or The capris ere eet cht but the ‘he lapca of Agar 1, Jal ain at Se mel, 1977) pp 68-6 15 ech Mats ppt. ME, 18 18, 2 ek, Yee, 16, Wehard Engh, Mom anton Seen ot nd he ‘we (een 172 pp 38.