Letter T
397. Ṭurra, aṭ- | الطرّة
Irbid governorate
Mesjid Shēkh Khalīl
JADIS no. none
MEGA no. 3127
Coordinates: 32°38'25.3"N 35°59'14.3"E
32.640361, 35.987306
Plan: broad rectangular, single aisled, in the middle of the S wall miḥrāb facing rectangular entrance door in N wall. The interior is divided into three rectangular bays, the E and middle ones covered by coarse cross vaults in dry basalt masonry, the W one by a new corbelled dome out of irregular stones in concentric setting; the rest of the flat mud roof was recently reinforced with a concrete slab.
Measurements: 29.76 m2
Exterior: unknown.
Interior: 9.3 m x 3.2 m.
Building Materials: predominantly basalt, roughly hewn blocks, mixed with limestones, the latter specially for the reconstruction of the new dome. The basalt masonry incorporates older spoils in the interior on the buttress imposts of the cross vaults of the W chamber: One hieroglyphic inscription (1), one fragmented Roman epitaph in Greek (2), and one relief showing a horned altar (fig. 397.19); above the miḥrāb a Roman dentil cornice fragment out of white stone (marble? limestone?). On the exterior E wall sits a single piece of marble in the upper rows of the masonry. In front of the building a Roman basalt sarcophagus with disc ornaments on one of its long sides. The roof has been recently consolidated by a concrete slab resting on I-steel beams supported by the dividing transversal arches on the engaged piers (fig. 397.5).
Construction details: The cross vaults rest on corbels in the corners of the E and W wall; the interior corners of cross vaults are supported by four pilaster imposts, each two beside the door and the miḥrāb. On the NW pilaster beside the door the hieroglyphic inscription (1) has been used in recut condition and turned around 90o to serve as an impost stone (fig. 397.14). In the lower stone courses of the SW pilaster beside the miḥrāb, the Greek inscription (2) is found in reuse, cut on the upper and lower ends and turned around 90o. The prayer niche is topped by a half-dome and its masonry is emphasized by altering rows of horizontal ashlar layers in black basalt and white limestones, carefully smoothened on their surfaces (fig. 397.13). The today covered floor allegedly consists of basalt stone slabs.
Preservation: Prior to its destruction, the building was intact but not used as a mosque; interior has been excavated down to the floor pavement after 1999. The corbelled dome upon the W chamber has been rebuilt at the same time. The W wall collapsed in winter 2018 (see JORDAN TIMES March 16th, 2019). The Jordanian authorities decided to destroy the entire building for security reasons. This was done in winter 2019 by bulldozing. After the demolishment the inscriptions have been given to the custody of the DoA, Ramtha branch.
Inscription(s): 1. Egyptian hieroglyphic inscription, basalt block, broken at both ends (figs. 396.16-17, transcription and translation by Wimmer 2002):
mrj_Jmn)/ [...]
Translation:
1 [...] --?-- [...]
2 [... of] Nepri, begotten by Geb, [...]
3 [...] who [es]tablishes the heirs on their thrones [...]
4 [... of] name, sacred of titulary, King of Egypt, [...]
5 [...] the beloved [...], brave of name, the bravest of war[riors, ...]
6 [...] to make them as columns at their place, to make [...]
7 [...] the rebels, th[eir] fortification [...]
8 [... (Wsr_]MAa.t_[Ra] stp_n_Ra)/, the son of Ra: (Ra_mss mrj_Jmn)/ [...]
The hieropglyphic text, if not entirely rhetorical, has tentatively been attributed by Wimmer 2002, 7 to the campaign of Ramesses II to Palestine and Syria in his 8th year of reign = ca. 1272 BC.
2. Greek epitaph in five lines, fig. 396.18; (transcription and translation by J. Aliquot Lyon, unpublished).
[Θάρσι]
[Ἀρ]τεμ̣-
[ι]σία ἐ-
τ̣ῶν
κθʹ.
“Have courage, Artemisia, lived 29 years.”
Date(s): Constructed around 1850 AD, demolished in winter 2019.
Traveler Reports: none known.
