Letter W

430. Wādī as-Sīr | وادي السير

‘Amman governorate

Masjid Bazadōgh

JADIS no. none

MEGA no. none

Coordinates: 31°56'58.0"N 35°49'13.2"E

31.949444, 35.820333

 

 

Plan: broad rectangular with centered miḥrāb in the middle of the S wall which protrudes as a trapezoid cubic element at the S exterior façade (fig. 430.4). In axis to the miḥrāb entrance door in the N façade flanked on both sides by windows with segmental arch frames. Further windows of the same shape in S wall on both sides of the miḥrāb and in the E and W short walls. At the NE exterior corner minaret.

Measurements: 193.6 m2

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: 16.00 x 12.10 m.

Building Materials: mustard-yellow soft limestone of local origin; original ceiling including the wooden cassettes decorated in Circassian style (fig. 430.16) and the minbar as well as the wing of the main entrance door from wood; beautifully carved candlesticks are made of white soft limestone (fig. 430.14).

Construction details: solid limestone block masonry in idiosomic bondage.

Preservation: The excellent preservation of the original interior and the high quality of stone decoration and furniture make the masjid Bazadōgh one of best preserved and most beautiful examples of late Ottoman religious architecture in Jordan; in use for daily Muslim prayer.

Inscription(s): Above the main entrance at the exterior N façade Arabic relief inscription in two lines, set in an oval cartouche and painted black:

 

Transcription:

 

Translation: “1332 H - In the name of Allāh, the Merciful, the Compassionate. The mosques are for Allāh only, do not worship anybody else than Allāh. 15th Sha‘bān” (NAt).

In the interior S wall above the miḥrāb three further inscriptions of Quranic verses painted in black on white background in ornamental wooden frames, above the right one specifying the mosque’s inauguration day to H 15th Sh’abān 1332.

 

Date(s): H 14th Sh’abān 1332 = 24th June 1914 AD.

Traveler Reports: none known.

Bibliography: Khammash 1986, 85; Daher 1996, 71 fig. 8.

 
Fig. 430.1 Sketch ground plan of the mosque with new extension to the N (above) and of the old original mosque (below) (NJ 2019).
Fig. 430.2 Exterior view from SW (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 430.3 Exterior view fromW (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 430.4 View of exterior S wall (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 430.5 Detail of old minaret and new dome (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 430.6 Detail of ornamented brackets supporting the balcony of the old minaret (TMW-K 2019).
Figs. 430.7-8 N-wall of old mosque with main entrance door (TMW- K 2019).
Fig. 430.9 Capitals of spiral columns framing the main exterior entrance door (TMW-K 2019).
Figs. 430.10-11 Base of minaret at the NE corner of exterior N façade and original wooden door with glass fan-light of old mosque, interior view (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 430.12 View of interior prayer hall from NW (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 430.13 Detail of miḥrāb and wooden minbar (TMW-K 2019).

Figures

[Fig. 430.1 ]
Sketch ground plan of the mosque with new extension to the N (above) and of the old original mosque (below) (NJ 2019).

[Fig. 430.2 ]
Exterior view from SW (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 430.3 ]
Exterior view fromW (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 430.4 ]
View of exterior S wall (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 430.5 ]
Detail of old minaret and new dome (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 430.6 ]
Detail of ornamented brackets supporting the balcony of the old minaret (TMW-K 2019).

[Figs. 430.7-8 ]
N-wall of old mosque with main entrance door (TMW- K 2019).

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[Fig. 430.9 ]
Capitals of spiral columns framing the main exterior entrance door (TMW-K 2019).

[Figs. 430.10-11 ]
Base of minaret at the NE corner of exterior N façade and original wooden door with glass fan-light of old mosque, interior view (TMW-K 2019).