288. Qwēlbeh / Abila of the Decapolis | قويلبة / أبيلا

Irbid Governorate

Masjid or muṣallā in Church E

JADIS no. 232 3003

MEGA no. 2762

Coordinates: 32°40'53.8"N 35°52'12.0"E

32.681611, 35.870000

Plan: Broad rectangular: The mosque has been installed in the S rectangular annex of the five-aisled basilica (church E). In the S wall are three carefully built niches which the excavators interpret as miḥrābs for Muslim prayer.

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: basalt.

Construction details: constructed out of carefully cut basalt ashlars of partly Roman origin.

Preservation: ruined, not in use for Muslim prayers.

Inscription(s): no building inscription is known, but several Arabic graffiti have been observed.

Date(s): Umayyad, according to C¹⁴-material from the niches from early Umayyad times (Vilha 2019).

Traveler Reports: none known.

Bibliography: Vilha 2019, 112-113.