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Qasr Amra

Qasr Amra
East (front) elevation and portion of south profile, 2009
NameQasr Amra
Native Nameقصر عمرة
Native LanguageArabic
CaptionEast (front) elevation and portion of south profile, 2009
LocationZarqa Governorate, Jordan
Lat Degrees31
Lat Minutes48
Lat Seconds48
Lat DirectionN
Long Degrees36
Long Minutes36
Long Seconds08
Long DirectionE
Coord Parameterstype:landmark_region:JO
LocmapinJordan
Built705 A.D.
Elevation520m
Designation1WHS
Designation1 OffnameQuseir Amra
Designation1 Date1985 (9th session)
Designation1 TypeCultural
Designation1 Criteriai, iii, iv
Designation1 Number327
Designation1 Free1nameState Party
Designation1 Free1valueJordan
Designation1 Free2nameRegion
Designation1 Free2valueArab States

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Qasr Amra ( ), often Quseir Amra or Qusayr Amra, is the best-known of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan. It was built early in the 8th century (probably between 711 and 715) by the Umayyad caliph Walid I whose dominance of the region was rising at the time. It is considered one of the most important examples of early Islamic art and architecture.

The building is actually the remnant of a larger complex that included an actual castle, of which only the foundation remains. What stands today is a small country cabin, meant as a royal retreat, without any military function. It is most notable for the frescoes that remain on the ceilings inside, which depict hunting, naked women and, above one bath chamber, an accurate representation of the zodiac. These have led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of three in the country. That status, and its location along Jordan's major east-west highway, relatively close to Amman, have made it a frequent tourist destination.


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