صورة:Qasr Alheer Alsharqi, Syria.jpg

Qasr Alheer Alsharqi (Eastern Alheer Palace or Eastern Castle) is located in the middle of the desert in Syria 128 km away from Palmyra and 100 km from Sergiopolis (Rusafa). It was built by Umayyad caliph Hisham Ibn Abdul-Malek about 740 A.D. in an area rich in desert fauna. It is said that calif used to spend his free time here, and go for hunting and learn original Arabic from local bedouin tribes. The palace consists of two square structures, the bigger one has a diameter of 300m and the lesser one 100m. It is found at the slopes of Bishri Mountain near Palmyran Middle Mountains. The palace(s) contain remnants of rooms, arches and columns seem to be parts of a huge complex of royal premises. Some of the decorated parts are moved to Damascus National Museum. The bigger palace has been several floors, with a huge gate and many towers. Towers were not built as defensive measures. There were also olive yards. The palaces were supplied with water by nearby byzantine church by a canal 5700m long. The palaces contained bathrooms, water reservoirs, mosques and gardens.

originally posted to Flickr as Qasr Alheer Alsharqi, Syria

2006-04-28 12:25:30

Jim Gordon