Letter F

109. Faqqū’ | فقّوع

al-Kerak Governorate

Maqām / Weli Umm Hilāl

JADIS no. 2108007; 2108042

MEGA no. 5031; 5050

Coordinates: 31°22'25.5"N 35°41'47.9"E

31.373739, 35.696647

 

 

Plan: The maqām / weli consists of an isolated tomb of rectangular ground plan, oriented E to W; It is erected upon an older basalt stone circle. In secondary phases lower semi-circular annexes have been added at the N and S sides.

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: Diameter of stone circle 4.6-5.00 m. Width of the tomb superstructure 2.5 m (with semi-circular annexed: length of tomb 2.5 m. Height 2.5 cm.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: unworked basalt boulders for the stone-circle; local yellowish-brown limestone for the tomb superstructure; traces of weathered whitewash remain on some blocks.

Construction details: stone circle constructed of unworked basalt boulders of medium size. The venerated tomb is raised with its masonry of semi-dressed limestone blocks in horizontal rows up to eight courses without use of mortar. At the E side a stone gap in the upper row forms a niche for offerings.

Preservation: intact, the near-by cemetery is still in use. The significance and identity of the venerated female saint Umm Hilāl is not anymore known in the local population. According to oral information, the tomb has been used for the burial of leading shēkhs by the local tribes since the past generations.

Inscription(s): none known.

Date(s): unknown.

Traveler Reports: Glueck (1934, 58-59, no. 125) and Miller (1991: 32, no. 13) noted the venerated tomb in their surveys of the site, but Worschech (Worschech et alii 1986, 287-288, no. 91, fig. 2) did not. Glueck noted the funeral shrine as a large white-washed tomb and Miller described it as a typical “weli”, 10 m east of the SE corner of a 30 x 30 m building. The surveyors reported Byzantine and Late Islamic pottery.

Bibliography: Glueck 1934: 58-59, no. 125; Miller 1991, 32-33 no. 13; Schick 2020 , no. 133.

 
Fig. 109.1 View on the plateau with the shrine of Umm Hilāl from NE, in the background beyond the valley the modern village of Faqqū’ (TMW-K 2020).
Fig. 109.2 Venerated tomb of Umm Hilāl, constructed on a stone circle of basalt stones, view from NE (TMW-K 2020). [Picture source: ]
Fig. 109.3 Venerated tomb of Umm Hilāl, constructed on a stone circle of basalt stones, view from W (TMW-K 2020). [Picture source: ]
Fig. 109.4 Venerated tomb of Umm Hilāl, constructed on a stone circle of basalt stones, view from S (TMW-K 2020).

Figures

[Fig. 109.1 ]
View on the plateau with the shrine of Umm Hilāl from NE, in the background beyond the valley the modern village of Faqqū’ (TMW-K 2020).

[Fig. 109.2 ]
Venerated tomb of Umm Hilāl, constructed on a stone circle of basalt stones, view from NE (TMW-K 2020). [Picture source: ]

[ Fig. 109.3 ]
Venerated tomb of Umm Hilāl, constructed on a stone circle of basalt stones, view from W (TMW-K 2020). [Picture source: ]