229. Ma‘ān | معان

Ma‘ān Governorate

Ḥājj fort / Qal‘a, Jāmi‘ / muṣallā (in the second floor)

JADIS no. none

MEGA no. none

Coordinates: 30°11'32.2"N 35°44'21.0"E

30.192278, 35.739167

 

Plan: almost square with a centralized miḥrāb of segmental plan in S wall.

Measurements: surface area: 530 m²; H. (average height of the walls): 7 m.

Exterior: 23.5 x 10.4 m.

Interior: central courtyard: 9 x 18.8 m.

Building Materials: local light brown limestone.

Construction details: cross vault on corner pilasters.

Preservation: intact, recently restored.

Inscription(s): inscription above the entrance door in calligraphy Ottoman Arab script set in eight oval cartouches pairwise beside each other. Photo and facsimile by Rashdan - Sha‘aban 2011 (transcription and translation by M.Tütüncu - G. Hagen, in: Petersen 2012, 156). As noted by Petersen, this is the earliest Ottoman Turkish inscription in Arabia and one of the earliest in any part of the Ottoman Empire.

Translation: “(1) The Lord of the world and seven climates the Ottoman’s son...(2) the merciful ordered them to do benefiece. (3) (through) ... Kubad Pasha his officer in Syria; (4) He ordered to build a fort and a water reservoir in Ma‘ān (5) He repaired - praise to Allāh - the road to the holy site, (6) The pilgrims prayed: what a charity and what a bene-volence. (7) humble slave scribe Sükūnī composed its chronogram: (8) Ma‘ān Sulṭān Süleyman built a fort and water reservoir (971)”( Translation: Petersen 2012, 156).

Date: 971 H (=1563 AD)

Traveler Reports:

Bibliography: Provincia Arabia II, 76; Housan 2008, 177-201; Rawadiyah 2007, II, 136; Rashdan - Sha’aban 2011, 117-140; Petersen 2012, 107 fig. 33; 156 pl. 97; Shqour 2015, 201-209; Shqour 2019, 377-386; Schick 2020, no. 67.