Letter S
318. Ṣakhrā | صخرة
‘Ajlūn Governorate
Masjid Ṣakhrā shārqi al-qadīm
JADIS no. 2319025
MEGA no. 12605, mosque 56649
Coordinates: 32°22'02.0"N 35°50'55.6"E
32.367222, 35.848778
Plan: rectangular, entrance from the E, qibla wall S, miḥrāb incorporated into the masonry of the S wall; interior divided by wall buttresses and two Roman columns (the E one a monolithic drum, the W one a profiled base) into two naves parallel to S qibla wall with each three cross vaulted bays; two old windows in S wall on both sides of miḥrāb with segmental upper end.
Measurements: 120 m2, capacity for 165 individuals.
Exterior: 15.3 m (S-wall).
Interior: 13.6-13m (N-S) x 9.13-9.07 m (E-W), all measurements by Khateb 2020.
Building Materials: in major part well-dressed limestone blocks of considerable size, probably of ancient origin. The tabula ansata (Mittmann 1970) with the rosette above the main entrance was not found in 2018. Two ancient column shafts (one of them with profiled upper end and an Attic-Ionic base) serve as central imposts for the cross vaults. Construction details: The building has been constructed on ancient foundations which are apparent at the S façade (figs. 318.3. 6); construction of the exterior walls in horizontal courses in isodomic arrangement. The construction stones had been bound with lime mortar, today they are in major parts newly restored with concrete in the joints.
Preservation: The old part is extended on both the W and E sides by recent prayer halls; in use for Muslim prayer.
Inscription(s): In the S exterior wall of the E extension is a three lined modern Arabic limestone inscription (Q. 9 at-Tawba, 18) in three lines, chiseled in flat relief:
Transcription:
Translation: “The mosques of Allāh are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allāh and the Last Day.” (NAt).
Date(s): Ayyubid-Mamluk in plan (the same laout as the mosque at Rēmūn (no. 306) and other examples in the ‘Ajlūn area, cf. nos. 36, 41, 63, 120, 206, 236, 238, etc.), with later Ottoman restorations and extensions of two new prayer halls in the E and the W in recent times. Also the minaret on the SE corner of the old mosque has been added recently.
Traveler Reports: “Hier findet man über dem Eingang der Moschee einen Türsturz, geschmückt mit einer erhaben gearbeiteten tabula ansata und einer darin eingeritzten Rosette.” (Mittmann 1970).
Bibliography: Steuernagel 1927, A 132; Mittmann 1970, 75-76 no. 185; Michel 2001, 424; Khouri 2009, 126 s.v. Sakhra; MMU IV 322 (A. M. Qudah); Khateb 2020, 137-138 no. 11 figs. 122-123.
