Hisham’s Palace in Jericho

Hisham’s Palace in Jericho

Hisham’s Palace, also known as Khirbet al- Mafjar, is an important early archeological site and one of Palestine’s most significant and wellpreserved Islamic heritage sites. The palace was built under the reign of Hisham ibn Abdul Malik, the 8th caliph of the Umayyad dynasty around 724 and 743 AD. It was later on, decorated by Hicham’s heir el-Walid II, between 743 and 744 AD. The palace served as a winter vacation home for the caliph who reigned in Damas.

Located on the northern bank of Wadi Nueima, approximately 4km north of Jericho city (Ariha) in the Jordan Valley, it belongs to the category of the “Umayyad desert castles” which have the specificity to be connected to the patronage of different figures in the Umayyad ruling family.

The palace consists of a castle, a small mosque, and a large bathing area. This last part is exceptionally decorated with sculpted stucco and mosaics.

The room called “diwan” contains a mosaic representing the “tree of life”, a pomegranate bearing fifteen pomegranates, under which three gazelles graze, one of which is bitten by a lion. This mosaic is the only one currently visible, but an 850 m2 mosaic, one of the largest in the world, is currently protected under the sand, awaiting restoration. The whole palace and the baths were provided with water supply thanks to an elaborate irrigation system taking source in the nearby springs. The palace’s architecture is remarkable for its intricate structural design and elaborate interiors. The style of the complex has noticeable byzantine influences. The Hisham’s Palace is an example of exceptional Islamic heritage of universal value and phenomenal secular architecture. It shows considerable development in architectural and artistic talent during the early Islamic era and reflects the Umayyad’s luxurious standard of living and their political and tribal power.