Letter S

355. Shōbak / Shawbak / Montreal | الشوبك (مونتريال)

Ma’ān Governorate

Castle, Ayyubid palace

JADIS no. 20099001

MEGA no. 42665

Coordinates: 30°31'55.3"N 35°33'38.5"E

30.532028, 35.560694

 

 

Plan: “The plan of the Reception Hall is a derivation of the qa‘a arrangement in which a central chamber or qa‘a is flanked by two iwans and linked to a linear series of chambers. In this plan, the small vaulted iwans joining the central chamber are best described as bays or niches” (Brown 1988, 227).

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: limestone.

Construction details: Specific elements which indicate religious activities in the palace are not available.

Preservation: The Ayyubid palace in its consolidated and partly restored condition is accessible for the visitor in the NE part of the castle. It is assumed by local guides that it was used for Muslim prayer purposes. A conclusive evidence for such an assumption is missing since no architectural element such as or any sort of miḥrāb in the qibla direction does exist.

Inscription(s): none known.

Date: “The origin of the Palace remains unknown, for the historical sources do not contain specific reference to this structure. While at least three Ayyubid rulers sponsored constructions at Shobak, several factors indicate that it was probably built and occupied by al- Mu‘azzam ‘Isa ibn al-‘Adil. Al-Mu‘azzam ‘Isa ruled Shobak from 1197 to 1218 as governor appointed by his father al-‘Adil Abū Bakr, and continued to hold Shobak within his territorial domain from 1218 to 1226 while serving as the Sultan of Damascus. Al-Mu‘azzam 'Isa's investments at Shobak were considerable, for he is credited with having fortified and beautified Shobak, planting gardens whose beauty rivaled the gardens of Damascus. The exceptional energies that al-Mu‘azzam ‘Isa devoted to Shobak · indicate that he maintained his personal residence there, at least until assuming power in Damascus. As such, the Palace may also be counted among the accomplishments of this Ayyubid prince” (Brown 1988, 240. 242).

Traveler Reports: none known.

Bibliography: Brown 1988, 225-245; Schick 2020, no. 115.

 
Fig. 355.1 View of the castle from S (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 355.2 View of the reception hall from N (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 355.3 Plan of the N and E palaces on Shōbak castle (Brown 1988, 229 fig. 3).
Fig. 355.4 View of doorway from reception hall to the W (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 355.5 View of hall A1 of the N palace from N (NAt 2019).
Fig. 355.6 View of hall A1 of the N palace, W wall from E (NAt 2019).

Figures

[Fig. 355.1 ]
View of the castle from S (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 355.2 ]
View of the reception hall from N (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 355.3 ]
Plan of the N and E palaces on Shōbak castle (Brown 1988, 229 fig. 3).

[Fig. 355.4]
View of doorway from reception hall to the W (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 355.5]
View of hall A1 of the N palace from N (NAt 2019).