Letter D

87. Dēr Ilyūs / Dēr Luyūs, Khirbet | خربة دير اليوس

‘Ajlūn Governorate

Jāmi‘

JADIS no. 2219014

MEGA no. 28418

Coordinates: 32°22'06.0"N 35°47'17.0"E

32.368333, 35.788056

 

 

Plan: The ground plan is difficult to retrieve from the present surface remains due to the considerable tumble of stones. The GJU-survey on August 20th, 2019 reported evidence of a relatively small prayer hall, almost square in plan in N-S orientation with an annexed rectangular mantled part with incorporated deep semicircular miḥrāb protruding to the S (fig. 87.2). Due to the unclear condition of the ruin, it was only possible to draw a preliminary plan. Further information can only be retrieved by a careful surface clearance and excavation.

Measurements: ca. 10.5 m2

Exterior: 6 x 9 m (Mittmann 1970; also reported by Mac Kenzie 2002); 7.75 x 6.5 m (GJU survey)

Interior: Prayer hall: 3.50 x 3.0 m, length (N-S) including miḥrāb 5,00 m; the miḥrāb alone (interior) 1.50 x 1.20 m (GJU survey).

Building Materials: many roughly dressed limestones of grey to light brown color coming from the near-by quarries. Construction details: probably barrel-vaulted (MacKenzie 2002). The GJU survey on August 20th, 2019 observed that the foundations were set into a rectangular depression chiseled into the virgin bedrock; three pilasters along the W interior long wall, two in the corners in the NW and SW, corresponding with a central rectangular one at this wall. They carried transversal arches as the support of a flat roof with the traditional perpendicular ceiling coverage of stone slabs or wooden beams.

Preservation: ruined and covered in parts by collapsed stones; not in use for Muslim prayer.

Inscription(s): none known.

Date(s): at the site late Byzantine, Umayyad, ‘Abbasid and Mamluk surface pottery (Mittmann 1970). The plan of the small mosque compares to Fatimid models.

Traveler Reports: “Nur am Nordrand heben sich die Fundamentreste einer kleinen Moschee (6 x 9 m), als solche kenntlich an der Gebetsnische, aus dem Boden heraus.” (Mittmann 1970).

Bibliography: Mittmann 1970, 72-73 no. 175; MacKenzie 2002, 618; Walker 2011, 153 note 111.

 
Fig. 87.2 Sketch ground plan (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 87.3 General view from S, in the foreground exterior tumble of the miḥrāb zone (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 87.4 View of the interior prayer hall from S (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 87.5 Detail view of the interior SW prayer hall corner with the trace of a corner pilaster to support an arch in front of the miḥrāb (TMW-K 2019).
Fig. 87.6 Detail view ofthe curve of the miḥrāb from N, in the background collapsed stones (TMW-K 2019).

Figures

[Fig. 87.2 ]
Sketch ground plan (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 87.3 ]
General view from S, in the foreground exterior tumble of the miḥrāb zone (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 87.4 ]
View of the interior prayer hall from S (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 87.5 ]
Detail view of the interior SW prayer hall corner with the trace of a corner pilaster to support an arch in front of the miḥrāb (TMW-K 2019).

[Fig. 87.6 ]
Detail view ofthe curve of the miḥrāb from N, in the background collapsed stones (TMW-K 2019).