Letter Q

282. Qasṭal al-Balqā’ | قسطل البلقاء/ القسطل

‘Ammān governorate

Cemetery / maqbarā Skeūkh Fāyez

JADIS no. 2312002

MEGA no. 2699 / 15069

Coordinates: 31°44'46.4"N 35°56'21.8"E

31.746233, 35.939397

 

 

Plan: Today several monumental family tombs of the late Ottoman period are preserved. They consist of high constructed chests, two of them have engaged colonnettes at their short E and W sides. Their covers are partly decorated with tower-like elements on both sides of the foot and head stones. Three of them have small votive niches at the N long site for burning incense. One of the tombs shows reliefs with the symbols of Arab hospitality, equipment for coffee making (fig. 282.9-11).

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: local brownish limestone.

Construction details: see above under “plan”.

Preservation: The three main tombs are well preserved.

Inscription(s): see under “date(s)”

Date(s): The three main tombs of the al-Fayez family are dated by their inscriptions to H 1326 and 1329 / AD 1908 and 1911. In their surveys on the burial site to the S of the palace, S. Bacquey and F. Imbert uncovered a number of inscribed tombstones which refer to nobilities directly linked to the Umayyad court of the Marwanid period.

Traveler Reports: cf. the report on an obviously older tomb stone with decorations of coffee hospitality near ‘Ain Ḥesbān by Merrill (1881, 240, with illustration).

Bibliography: Bacquey - Imbert 1986, 397-404, Imbert 1992, 17-59.

 
Figs. 282.1-3 Inscribed head-stones of the late Ottoman tombs in thecemetery (TMW-K 2015).
 
Fig. 282.4 Plan of the Qaṣtal necropolis (Bacquey - Imbert 1986,).
 
Fig. 282.5-6 View of group of late Ottoman tombs (TMW-K 2015).
 
Fig. 282.7 Late Ottoman tomb, view from NW (TMW-K 2015).
Fig. 282.8 Late Ottoman tomb, view from SW (TMW-K 2015).
Fig. 282.9 Decoration of the late Ottoman tomb coffee pot with cups (TMW-K 2015).
Fig. 282.10 Decoration of the late Ottoman tomb Roasting pan for coffee beans (TMW-K 2015).
Fig. 282.11 Decoration of the late Ottoman tomb Coffe mortar and pestles (TMW-K 2015).

Figures

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[Fig. 282.4 ]
Plan of the Qaṣtal necropolis (Bacquey - Imbert 1986,).

[Fig. 282.5-6 ]
View of group of late Ottoman tombs (TMW-K 2015).

[Fig. 282.7 ]
Late Ottoman tomb, view from NW (TMW-K 2015).

[Fig. 282.8 ]
Late Ottoman tomb, view from SW (TMW-K 2015).

[Fig. 282.9 ]
Decoration of the late Ottoman tomb coffee pot with cups (TMW-K 2015).

[Fig. 282.10 ]
Decoration of the late Ottoman tomb Roasting pan for coffee beans (TMW-K 2015).

[Fig. 282.11 ]
Decoration of the late Ottoman tomb Coffe mortar and pestles (TMW-K 2015).