Qasr Amra, Desert palace in Eastern desert of Az Zarqa, Jordan.
Qasr Amra is a desert palace in the eastern desert of Az Zarqa featuring reception halls, living quarters, and a bathhouse complex with separate chambers for varying temperature experiences. The structure demonstrates how military and residential functions were integrated into a single compound.
The palace was built between 730 and 740 CE under Prince Walid ibn Yazid during the Umayyad era. It served as a hunting lodge and royal residence during this early period of Islamic history.
The walls display fresco paintings depicting hunting scenes, daily activities, and portraits, with inscriptions in Greek and Arabic throughout. These artworks reveal how the ruling class lived and what they valued during the Umayyad period.
The site is located roughly 85 kilometers from Amman and accessible via Route 40 highway. Visitors should bring appropriate clothing for the heat and plan timing in advance, as the location lies in an isolated desert area.
The caldarium ceiling features one of the earliest known celestial maps painted on a dome, depicting the northern hemisphere sky. This astronomical depiction is noteworthy because it reveals that such knowledge existed during this early period.
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