217 lines
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217 lines
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<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
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<channel>
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<title>Architecture on Picturing Jordan</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/categories/architecture/</link>
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<description>Recent content in Architecture on Picturing Jordan</description>
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<language>en-us</language>
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<copyright>Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a <a rel='license' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/'>Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license</a>.</copyright>
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<lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:55:20 +0300</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://picturingjordan.com/categories/architecture/index.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
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<item>
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<title>Gadara's Octagonal Martyrium</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2020/04/gadaras-octagonal-martyrium/</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:55:20 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2020/04/gadaras-octagonal-martyrium/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2020/02/gadara-martyrium.jpg"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Ruins of the octagonal sixth-century Byzantine martyrium</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>Nestled on a plateau in the northwestern corner of Jordan lay the ruins of the ancient city of <em>Gadara</em>. From this vantage point, just beyond the sleepy town of Umm Qays, you have a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_the_Golan_Heights">Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights</a>. Like many other places in the region, Gadara appeared on the historical record after Alexander the Great&rsquo;s conquest of the Near East in 333 BCE.<sup id="fnref:1"><a href="#fn:1" class="footnote-ref" role="doc-noteref">1</a></sup> The city seems to have been mostly destroyed and subsequently abandoned after an earthquake in the eighth century.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Iconic Roman Ruins in Amman</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2020/01/iconic-roman-ruins-amman/</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2020 09:23:20 +0200</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2020/01/iconic-roman-ruins-amman/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2020/01/2019-11-01-amman-citadel.jpg"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>The ruins of the Roman Temple of Hercules</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>Jordan&rsquo;s location in the geographical &ldquo;near east&rdquo; has exposed it to dozens of civilizations over the course of history. In the last three thousand years alone the region has invariably fallen under the Persian, Greek, Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman empires, the legacies of which are often still visible today.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Saint Thaddeus Church at Sunset</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2018/07/saint-thaddeus-church-sunset/</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2018 13:16:43 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2018/07/saint-thaddeus-church-sunset/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2018/07/IMG_20180707_185402.jpg"
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alt="Church in typical Armenian style with pointy blue roof and the city behind it."/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Iconic Armenian Church in Jabal Al-Ashrafiyeh at Sunset</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>Shortly after moving to Amman <a href="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/saint-thaddeus-church-amman/">I noticed this unique building</a> on a distant hill and I set out on a sort of scavenger hunt to find it. The walk from downtown to Jabal Al-Ashrafiyeh is packed with winding streets and steep staircases (some of which go nowhere). To this day the church is one of my favorite landmarks in Amman and I often make the trek there when I&rsquo;m feeling like getting some exercise and exploring the city. I like to think of it as a pilgrimage — it <em>is</em> a religious site after all!</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Greco–Roman Ruins of Pella</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2018/02/greco-roman-ruins-pella/</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:43:29 +0200</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2018/02/greco-roman-ruins-pella/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2018/02/DSC_0005.JPG"
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alt="Remains of the classical basilica of Pella"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Remains of the classical basilica of Pella</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>These days there isn&rsquo;t much to see of the Greco–Roman city of Pella in northwestern Jordan. Sadly, the ancient ruins here suffer from being slightly smaller, slightly less well-preserved, and slightly less convenient to visit than the similar ruins at <a href="https://picturingjordan.com/2017/04/greco-roman-ruins-jerash/">Jerash</a>. With a bit of imagination and some historical background, however, they are equally enchanting and even have a unique character of their own.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Emperor Hadrian's Arch in Jerash</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2017/06/emperor-hadrians-arch-jerash/</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:24:57 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2017/06/emperor-hadrians-arch-jerash/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2017/06/IMG_20170606_101711.jpg"
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alt="The Arch of Hadrian welcomes you to Jerash"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>The Arch of Hadrian welcomes you to Jerash</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>There are apparently two arches built around 130 CE to honor Roman Emperor Hadrian—one in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Hadrian_(Athens)">Athens</a> and one in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Hadrian_(Jerash)">Jerash</a>. The former is undoubtedly more studied, but the latter is objectively more beautiful! Maybe it&rsquo;s the color of the stones in the afternoon light, the unconventional architectural features, or just the sheer size of it.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Greco–Roman Ruins in Jerash</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2017/04/greco-roman-ruins-jerash/</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 05 Apr 2017 08:50:44 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2017/04/greco-roman-ruins-jerash/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2017/04/DSC_0143.jpg"
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alt="Row of columns at the Oval Forum in Jerash"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Row of columns at the Oval Forum in Jerash</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>Jordan&rsquo;s location in the geographical &ldquo;near east&rdquo; has exposed the country to dozens of civilizations over the course of history. Over the last three thousand years alone this region has experienced the coming and going of the Persian, Greek, Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman — to name a few — empires, the legacies of which are often still visible today.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>The Dome of the Rock</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2017/01/dome-of-the-rock/</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2017 08:53:53 +0200</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2017/01/dome-of-the-rock/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2017/01/IMG_20170117_083551.jpg"
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alt="Golden dome, vibrant tiles, and elegant Arabic calligraphy"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Golden dome, vibrant tiles, and elegant Arabic calligraphy</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>While not <em>technically</em> in Jordan, Jerusalem&rsquo;s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock">Dome of the Rock</a> is basically just a stone&rsquo;s throw away from Amman (pun intended). Not only is this shrine capped with a golden dome, covered in vibrant Ottoman-era tilework, and adorned with elegant Arabic calligraphy, it also boasts an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_Stone">impressive <em>résumé</em> of sacred claims to fame</a>.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>The Grandeur of Petra</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/12/grandeur-petra/</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2016 20:13:21 +0200</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/12/grandeur-petra/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/12/DSC_0029.JPG"
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alt="Petra&#39;s &#34;monastery&#34; basking in the golden light just before sunset"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Petra&#39;s &#34;monastery&#34; basking in the golden light just before sunset</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeans">Nabataeans</a> were a tribe who became filthy rich on the trade of frankincense, myrrh, and spices in the Arabian peninsula around 2,000 years ago. They built Petra as the capital of their flourishing civilization. Hauntingly beautiful stone facades standing one hundred meters tall are amazingly intact and well preserved to this day.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Sheikh Zayed Mosque: the Pearl of Aqaba</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/10/sheikh-zayed-mosque-pearl-aqaba/</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:06:06 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/10/sheikh-zayed-mosque-pearl-aqaba/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/10/DSC_0024.JPG"
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alt="Beautiful mosque by the sea, surrounded by palm trees"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Beautiful mosque by the sea, surrounded by palm trees</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>The best way to describe the Sheikh Zayed mosque would be &ldquo;the pearl of Aqaba.&rdquo; There is a lot to love about this picturesque mosque by the Jordanian seaside, but its crown jewel — to continue the analogy — is the impeccable Arabic calligraphy inlaid in its façade. Sadly, Aqaba itself <a href="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/10/aqaba-dirty-disappointing/">isn&rsquo;t much to write home about</a>.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>King Hussein Mosque at Night</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/king-hussein-mosque-night/</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2016 11:54:07 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/king-hussein-mosque-night/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/DSC_0010.jpg"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Amman&#39;s King Hussein mosque at night</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Hussein_Mosque">King Hussein mosque</a> was built in 2005 and is the largest mosque in Jordan. I haven&rsquo;t visited it yet, but I&rsquo;ve spent quite a few evenings admiring it from a balcony in the <em>Khalda</em> neighborhood of West Amman.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Another Beautiful Hand-Painted Wood Ceiling</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/another-beautiful-hand-painted-ceiling/</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:28:23 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/another-beautiful-hand-painted-ceiling/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/DSC_0008.jpg"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>A hand-painted floral pattern on wooden panels on the ceiling</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>Another day, another exquisite, hand-painted ceiling in Amman. Just like the <a href="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/beautiful-hand-painted-woodwork/">other hand-painted wood ceiling</a> I posted about two weeks ago, the work was done by an old Syrian man. This one is actually in my flat, and I may or may not have taken this picture while laying on my back on the living room floor.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Saint Thaddeus Church in Amman</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/saint-thaddeus-church-amman/</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2016 14:58:34 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/saint-thaddeus-church-amman/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/IMG_20160919_141959.jpg"
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alt="Armenian church with pointy blue steeple in traditional style"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Easily one of the most unique buildings in Amman</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>Even if the number of mosques in Amman <em>didn&rsquo;t</em> outnumber churches by a factor of ten, the Saint Thaddeus Armenian Apostolic church would still stand out. The unique architecture caught my eye once and then I started seeing it every time I glanced at Jabal Al-Ashrafiyeh. After weeks of squinting and asking myself &ldquo;<em>Is that an Armenian church?</em>&rdquo; I finally went on an scavenger hunt and found it.</p></description>
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</item>
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<item>
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<title>Beautiful Hand-Painted Woodwork</title>
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<link>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/beautiful-hand-painted-woodwork/</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:48:23 +0300</pubDate>
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<guid>https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/beautiful-hand-painted-woodwork/</guid>
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<description><figure>
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<img src="https://picturingjordan.com/2016/09/IMG_20160916_174409.jpg"
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alt="Beautiful hand-painted wood panels on the ceiling"/> <figcaption>
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<h4>Beautiful hand-painted wood panels on the ceiling</h4>
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</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>There&rsquo;s an old Syrian man who does this fantastic hand painting on wood panels in Amman. Three flats in our building have them installed on the ceiling, but this one takes the cake. I&rsquo;m not sure if it&rsquo;s typical for the region or not — the man was referencing pictures from a Russian art book — but they are exquisite.</p></description>
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