Letter M
241. Manākhir, al- | المناخر
‘Ammān Governorate
Jāmi‘ / Masjid
JADIS no. 2514006
MEGA no. 2742
Coordinates: 31°53'43.4"N 36°04'28.0"E
31.895389, 36.074444
Plan: almost square, miḥrāb and door slightly shifted from the central room axis. The miḥrāb was incorporated into the masonry of the S wall. Its niche was relatively broad (measuring 0.92 m; height 0.65 m, depth 0.95 m) and crowned by a pointed arch of constructed of voussoirs.
Measurements: ca. 64 m2
Exterior: 8.60 x 8.55 m.
Interior: thickness of S wall (according to Provincia Arabia) 1.45 m, N wall 0.60 m.
Building Materials: boulders of limestone and chert.
Construction details: No evidence for the roofing.
Preservation: The site has been severely demolished in the first half of the 20th century. The Khan has been turned into shepherd houses constructed of the old stone material. Of the mosque only scarce traces of foundation stones survive; ruined and not in use for Muslim prayer.
Inscription(s): above the door of the mosque an Arabic inscription in three lines, already collapsed at the time of Brünnow’s and von Domaszewksi’s visit. Calligraphy in Mamluk naskhi (Squeeze in the M. van Berchem Archive). The original inscription was not anymore detected in situ during the GJU field trip in May 2019.
Transcription according Provincia Arabia II 195: Translation: “Ordered the construction of this blessed place our Lord, the Sulṭān, the wise, the just [the supported ?] the triumphant, the victorious, al-Malik al-Manṣūr Ḥusām al-Dunyā wa-al-Dīn Abū al-Muẓaffar Lājīn, the partner of the Commander of the Faithful, may Allāh glorify his victories. And that was in the months of the year six and ninety and six hundred.” (Translation by RS).
Date: The inscription gives the date H 696 = 1296/1297 AD.
Traveler Reports:”... südlich davon liegt eine kleine, 8.60 m im Geviert messende Moschee, mit einer Gebetsnische an der Südwand” (Provincia Arabia II, 192).
Bibliography: Provincia Arabia II, 192-195, fig. 780-781. 784; RCEA XIII, no. 5030 (= TEI no. 3743).
Fig. 241.1 General view of ruins upon the hill at Manākhir,view from E (TMW-K 2019). 
Fig. 241.4 View of mosque from N, showing its condition in the late 19th century, note the fallen Arabic inscription lintel in front of the door (Provincia Arabia II fig. 874). 
Fig. 241.5 General view of the hill at Manākhir with ruined houses rebuilt in the early 20th century on the foundations of the older Khān and mosque (TMW-K 2019 ). 
Fig. 241.6 General view of ruins upon the hill at Manākhir, E part (TMW-K 2019). 