Book review: Damascene palaces and ornamentation in the Umayyad period
Regional, Culture, 2/8/1999

Dr. Afif Bahnasi, a well-renowned Syrian archaeologist and former director general of the antiquities department in Syria highlighted in his book, "Damascene Palaces and Ornamentation in the Umayyad Period" the magnificent art in Damascus under the Umayyad reign.

The author, in his preface to the book, sheds light on architectural achievements in the Umayyad period represented mainly by the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem built by Abdul Malik Bin Marwan and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, built by his son, al-Walid Bin Abdul Malik.

Dr. Bahnasi says that the palaces set up in al-Sham, the capital of the Umayyad caliphate, clearly show the bases of original Arab Islamic architecture. These palaces were established according to a unified design depending primarily on a wall which surrounds the buildings, internal courtyards and two story buildings.

The external walls took the form of bastions. Towers were not necessary to ensure defense, and that is why a few towers could be seen in these buildings. They were built only to support the walls and give more beauty to the buildings. Moreover, architects found no need for setting up such towers because at that time people used to lead rather peaceful lives.

Researchers' opinions vary regarding the sources from which the Umayyads benefited in erecting their palaces. Some of these researches say that the palaces are similar to those set up in the Hellenistic and Byzantine epochs like the palace of Deir al-Kahf, Antar castle and the Andarine. But other researchers say that the form of the Umayyad places had been known among the old Arab inhabitants of the desert. These Arabs established their tents and houses overlooking a central area of the land to keel their grazing livestock like the house of Prophet Muhammad, al-Nadwa house in Mecca, mosques, guest houses and schools.

Dr. Bahnasi says that Umayyad architecture was an original Arabic art and a sophisticated development of Arab traditions in building in the distant past of the Arab peninsula. The Umayyads artistically borrowed, to enrich their buildings, what they found beautiful and useful of the Roman and Byzantine decorations and ornamentation.

In "Damascenes Palaces in the Umayyad period" Dr. Bahnasi gives a brief explanation of the Umayyad palaces existing in al-Sham countries, showing their characteristics, specifications and history concentrating on Caliph Mu'awiya's palace "al-Khadra," and the palaces discovered in Jerusalem: Amra palace, Kherber al-Menya, al-Sarh Beth, the palace of al-Mowaqer and Yazid Bin Abdul Malik, the Palace of Caliph Hisham al-Resafa, etc.

Al-Bahnasi's Book, however is a useful contribution to historians' studies and efforts aimed to unmask the blurred charms of Arabic architecture.

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