429. Wādī as-Sīr | وادي السير

‘Amman governorate)

Masjid Abzākh

JADIS no. none

MEGA no. none

Coordinates: 31°57'07.0"N 35°49'02.0"E

31.951944, 35.817222

Plan: broad rectangular with two columns; miḥrāb in the middle of the S wall facing the entrance door in N wall; in front of the N façade an arcaded riwāq on the full width of the old mosque, now integrated into a new N extension of the payer hall. This can be accessed by doors at the NW corner and a long staircase ascending from the street level along the W façade of the old mosque. The old minaret at the NE corner can be climbed via a door in the NE interior corner of the old prayer hall.

Measurements: 130 m² (old part).

Exterior: 15.8 x 10.8 m (old part).

Interior: 13 x 10 m (old part).

Building Materials: The newly restored mosque has been cladded at the exterior and in the interior with white industrially fabricated limestone slabs with mortar. The interior is plastered and whitewashed. A continuous pedestal zone running all around the interior walls has been clad with precious, highly polished white-brown veined marble slabs of assumingly Chinese provenance. The white minaret displays framing elements and diamond ornaments in contrasting orange-rose limestone (fig. 429.4). There is a noteworthy old Ottoman sundial (fig. 429.10-11), formerly set up in front of the N exterior façade of the prayer hall, now displayed in the new W staircase leading up to the extended prayer halls.

Construction details: old masonry of solid limestone blocks, today widely hidden under new revetment of industrially fabricated stones.

Preservation: in restored and enlarged condition regularly is use for Muslim prayer.

Inscription(s): none known.

Date(s): 1903

Traveler Reports: none known.

Bibliography: unpublished.