Mshatta is an unfinished Umayyad winter palace about 19 miles (30 km) south of Amman, Jordan, probably commissioned by Caliph al-Walid II during his reign in 743 and 744. The article names no architect. The infobox and text both call it Umayyad. The enclosure measures 472 feet (144 m) square and has 25 towers in its outer wall.
Only the north reception wing was fully built, with a three-aisle basilica-style hall leading to a triconch throne room under a brick dome. Four barrel-vaulted suites flank it. The interior was divided into three strips, and only the central one was developed. A small mosque sits in the south gateway block.
A carved frieze decorated the central third of the south facade. The facade was removed and is displayed at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. A limestone lion and two female figures were also found, one now in Berlin and one in Amman. Much of the site remains in place.
Comments