The Ayyubid Reception Hall
This sumptuous hall was the heart of the Ayyubid palace. Saladin or his brother Al-Adil the 1st built it between 1190 and 1212, drawing inspiration from the imperial palace of the legendary Samarra, the 9th century capital of the Abbasids.
It features a central chamber with two opposite niches, known as Iwan, one reserved for the Sultan to the north and the other for guests, as well as two double halls with tripartite access, situated to the east and west.
Among the palaces built by the Ayyubid rulers, this one in Shobak is comparable in size only to those of Aleppo and Cairo and serves as an architectural model for that of Kerak.
A significant lintel in the Museum, with mixed Christian and Islamic decorations, a sign of religious tolerance, was part of the architectural decoration of the palace.
Last update
19.06.2024