Letetr J

173. Jebā / Jabā | جبا

Jerash Governorate

Jāmi‘

JADIS no. 231 9009

MEGA no. 6677

Coordinates: 32°19'37.1"N 35°56'02.2"E

32.326978, 35.933939

 

 

Plan: unknown. The remains of the mosque seen by G. Schumacher in the late 19th century are located at the ascending slope beyond the modern asphalt road which runs to the S of the modern mosque in the center of the village.

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: As far visible today, at least a part of the old mosque has been chiseled into the natural limestone rock.

Construction details: The entrance door with the cross medallion has been cut into the naturally grown rock. The identification is based on the shape to the cross medallion published by Steuernagel (1927) from the diaries of G. Schumacher (figs. 173.4-5).

Preservation: The interior of the rock chamber is filled today with earth and modern garbage; not in use for Muslim prayers.

Inscription(s): none known.

Date(s): Due to the cross medallion chiseled on the lintel (fig. 173.3) it is possible that the old mosque was installed in an earlier rock-cut Christian installation of Byzantine age. The scarce remnants visible today do not give any hint on the chronology of the old mosque.

Traveler Reports: “Auf ihm liegen die Ruinen des Ortes dscheba, die große Ähnlichkeiten mit denen von ‘ebta haben ... An einer dschami’ findet sich auf dem Türsturz des Nordeinganges ein Kreuz (Abb. 85); das miḥrāb im Süden ist erhalten, sonst ist das Gebäude zerfallen” (Steuernagel 1927).

Bibliography: Steuernagel 1927, A. 135; 366 fig. 85.

Fig. 173.1 Panorama view of Jebā from W (TMW-K 2019).
 
Fig. 173.2 View from the rock-cut room to the N of the modern mosque (HAt 2019).
Fig. 173.3 Cross medallion in relief on the rock-cut lintel above N en- trance to the rock-cut room to the S of the modern mosque (HAt 2019).
Fig. 173.4 Cross medallion in re- lief on the rock-cut lintel above N entrance (HAt 2019).
Fig. 173.5 Cross medallion in relief on lintel above N entrance (Steuernagel 1927, A 366 fig. 85).

Figures

[Fig. 173.2 ]
View from the rock-cut room to the N of the modern mosque (HAt 2019).

[Fig. 173.3 ]
Cross medallion in relief on the rock-cut lintel above N en- trance to the rock-cut room to the S of the modern mosque (HAt 2019).

[Fig. 173.4 ]
Cross medallion in re- lief on the rock-cut lintel above N entrance (HAt 2019).

[Fig. 173.5 ]
Cross medallion in relief on lintel above N entrance (Steuernagel 1927, A 366 fig. 85).