Qasr ibn Wardan
Encyclopedia
Qasr ibn Wardan is a sixth-century military complex located in the Syria
n desert
, approximately 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) northeast from Hama
.
The complex of a palace
, church and barracks
was erected in the mid-sixth century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I
(r. 527–565) as a part of a defensive line (together with Resafa
and Halabiye) against the Sassanid Persians. Its unique style, "imported" directly from Constantinople
and not found anywhere else in present-day Syria, was probably chosen to impress local Beduin tribes and to consolidate control over them. Basalt
was brought from somewhere far north or south from the site and marble
columns and capitals
are supposed to be brought from Apamea
.
Nothing remains of the barracks today. The palace was probably the local governor's residence as well. Its best-preserved part is the southern façade
of alternating bands of basalt black and brick yellow. There are remains of stables in the northern and a small bath
complex at the eastern part of the palace with a central courtyard. Function of each room was indicated by a carved stone.
The church (square-shaped with a central nave
and two side aisle
s) is standing just west of the palace and is architecturally similar to it, but a bit smaller. Originally it was covered by a large dome
(only a pendentive
remains till today) and shows an example of a Byzantine
early dome building technique.
Originally three sides (only northern and southern remain) had upper floor galleries reserved for women. The fourth side is concluded by a typical Byzantine semicircular and half-domed apse
.
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
, approximately 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) northeast from Hama
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
.
The complex of a palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
, church and barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
was erected in the mid-sixth century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
(r. 527–565) as a part of a defensive line (together with Resafa
Resafa
Resafa , known in Roman times as Sergiopolis, was a city located in what is now modern-day Syria. It is an archaeological site situated south-west of the city of Ar Raqqah and the Euphrates.-History:...
and Halabiye) against the Sassanid Persians. Its unique style, "imported" directly from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and not found anywhere else in present-day Syria, was probably chosen to impress local Beduin tribes and to consolidate control over them. Basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
was brought from somewhere far north or south from the site and marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
columns and capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
are supposed to be brought from Apamea
Apamea (Syria)
Apamea was a treasure city and stud-depot of the Seleucid kings, was capital of Apamene, on the right bank of the Orontes River. . Its site is found about to the northwest of Hama, Syria, overlooking the Ghab valley...
.
Nothing remains of the barracks today. The palace was probably the local governor's residence as well. Its best-preserved part is the southern façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
of alternating bands of basalt black and brick yellow. There are remains of stables in the northern and a small bath
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
complex at the eastern part of the palace with a central courtyard. Function of each room was indicated by a carved stone.
The church (square-shaped with a central nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and two side aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s) is standing just west of the palace and is architecturally similar to it, but a bit smaller. Originally it was covered by a large dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
(only a pendentive
Pendentive
A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room. The pendentives, which are triangular segments of a sphere, taper to points at the bottom and spread at the top to establish the continuous circular or...
remains till today) and shows an example of a Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
early dome building technique.
Originally three sides (only northern and southern remain) had upper floor galleries reserved for women. The fourth side is concluded by a typical Byzantine semicircular and half-domed apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
.