88. Dēr Liyāt | دير الليّات

Jerash Governorate

Maqām Shēkh Bakr al-Liyāḥ al-Qāderi

JADIS no. none

MEGA no. none

Coordinates: 32°17'34.8"N 35°52'34.5"E

32.293000, 35.876250

Plan: located in the old cemetery with historic trees (Nueimat -Alkilani 2002, possibly at the site of an ancient sanctuary as indicated by the presence of a Roman altar (fig. 88.11); plan rectangular, with dome and barrel vaulted N annex (fig. 88.6) for the sarcophagus in E-W orientation. In the S-wall is a centralized niche as miḥrāb with a scallop half dome as upper final (fig. 88.8). The main access was from a door from the W, in recent times enlarged by a small chamber for the reception of pilgrimage guests.

Measurements: unknown.

Exterior: unknown.

Interior: unknown.

Building Materials: light brown local limestone.

Construction details: unknown.

Preservation: clad from outside with modern masonry out of limestone.

Inscription(s): new Arabic inscription on a recessed limestone slab on three lines, letters in relief and painted with turquoise color, dated to 1960 referring to a renovation of the sanctuary (transcription and translation NAt).

Translation: "In the name of Allāh, the most Merciful, the most Compassionate. This building has been built by Ḥamze al-‘Abed al-Karim in the year AD 1960, Dēr Liyāt."

Date(s): The mention of the maqām by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt predates the tomb prior to the early 19th century AD. The beautiful tree which shades the sanctuary in the N is a Pistachia antlantica which has been planted around 1550 AD. The maqām probably dates to the early Ottoman period. It obviously stands in ancient Nabataean tradition since a Greek inscription on the base of an eagle statue (fig. 88.10) for the “Arabian God” (Θεός Ἀραβικός) had been found near the site (Gatier 1982). An incense altar of Roman times (fig. 88.11) can still be seen today in the immediate vicinity of the mausoleum.

Traveler Reports: “Three quarters of an hour from Souf, in our road, and just over the ruined city of Djerash, are the ruins called Kherbet el Deir [scil.: Liyāt], with a Turkish chapel named Mezar Abou Bcker.” (Burckhardt 1822).

Bibliography: Burckhardt 1822, 251; Mittmann 1970, 99 no. 253. Nueimat -Alkilani 2002, 21; For the Greek inscription cf. Gatier 1982,272-273 no. 3 pl. LXXVI.