Mshatta

Among the most famous pre-Islamic secular palaces, located in Jordan. Although only the main building was finished, it consisted of a square enclosure with a single gate in the south side. The interior was divided into three parallel strips running from north to south. There was a triple arch leading to a long basilical hall and a square, triple-apsed throne-room, reminiscent of the bishop's palace at Bosra in Syria, which is attributed to the 6th century. The main entrance and other parts of Mshatta were faced with richly carved stone reliefs. The palace is attributed to the Umayyad caliph Walid II (743-744) and presumably work stopped when he died. The Mshatta throne room does have a number of Sasanian elements and Iranian brickwork appears.

Although never finished, Mshatta in Jordan is among the most famous early Islamic palaces. It consists of a square enclosure, 147 metres across, with a single gate in the south side. The interior was divided into three parallel strips running from north to south. The lateral strips were never built, but bonding stones on the inner faces of the enclosure walls provide clues about the intended plan. In the central strip, the gate gives access to a hall, 17.4 metres long, and a small courtyard. Beyond this lies the central courtyard, 57 metres square, to the north of which stands the main building, the only part of the palace to be completed. Here, a triple arch leads to a long basilical hall and a square, triple-apsed throne-room, reminiscent of the bishop’s palace at Bosra in Syria, which is attributed to the 6th century. The main entrance and other parts of Mshatta were faced with richly carved stone reliefs, some of which are now in Berlin. The palace is attributed to the Umayyad caliph Walid II (743-4) and presumably work ceased when he died.