Aqaba Castle
.Aqaba Castle
The current Aqaba Fortress, Mamluk Fort or Aqaba Fort, situated in Aqaba, Jordan, is a castle originally constructed by Crusaders in the twelfth century as well as named Helim. Ayla (ancient Aqaba) had been recaptured through Saladin within 1187 and also the fortress has been destroyed until it finally was remanufactured in the earlier 16th millennium under the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Qansuh Al-Ghuri.
In This summer 1916, the actual fortress is the location to some victory from the Arab Rise? mutiny, when this particular heavily taken care of Turkish bastion fell for an Arab buck charge. Lawrence of Persia rode triumphantly from here in order to Cairo to be able to report the good thing to Common Allenby. The particular port associated with Aqaba grew to become a major provider base for your advancing Arabic Revolt.
Typically the fort is situated next to the particular Aqaba Flagpole, which bears the banner of the Arab-speaking revolt from the Ottomans. Next to the fortification is the Aqaba Archaeological Art gallery, which was when the Sharif Hussein's residence
The current scene of the great Arabic victory within July 1916 when this particular heavily taken care of Turkish bastion fell to some daring Arab-speaking camel cost. Lawrence rode triumphantly after this to Cairo to statement the good news for an astonished Common Allenby. The particular port associated with Aqaba grew to become a major provider base for your advancing Arabic Revolt.
Discovering it: they actually restored fortification lies within the waterfront inside Aqaba's aged town.
Just a few blocks away from the coast from the corniche on the Gulf of Aqaba, Mamluk Fortress is the site of a single of the most popular battles from the First Globe War. The current battle, a section of the Arab Rise? the mutiny that taken through Aqaba in 1916, is immortalized in one of the unforgettable scenes through David Lean's 1962 movie Lawrence associated with Arabia. Prior to its profession by the substituted Ottomans, this particular 16th-century fortress was constructed by the Mamluk sultanate as well as was used for hundreds of years as a 'khan', or traveler's inn, web hosting pilgrims on the southward trip to Great place for the yearly Hajj.
Inside the castle complicated, there is a jail, execution slot provided, pigeon holds, and horses stables. You are able to climb to the second round, but remember that there are absolutely no railings! This particular part of the fortress is not suggested for children as well as faint-hearted.
The current Archaeological Art gallery is next to the fortification in what was previously the structure of Sharif Hussein Rubbish bin Ali. The particular museum homes Bronze Age group artifacts which were recently found around Aqaba dating back in order to 4000 BC, as well as an assortment of artifacts through the 7th to be able to 12th millennium AD. A few of the best-known items at the art gallery include a big inscription of the Quranic passage that as soon as hung on the eastern door of the town, as well as valuable golden gold and silver coins.
Aqaba's long historical past dates back in order to pre-biblical occasions when it had been known as Ayla. According to the Bible's Old Legs, King Solomon built the naval foundation at Ezion Geber, simply 3km through where the contemporary town associated with Aqaba appears today.
Through 106 ADVERTISEMENT, the Aventure, who reigned over the region of their base within Syria, additionally used Ayla as their investing sea slot, until it received the effects of the Subtle Empire within the early fourth century. The actual Byzantines designated Christian Middle Easterns from southern Arabia to be able to rule the actual port town on their behalf.
The center Ages had been turbulent many years for Ayla. In the twelfth century, particularly crusaders grabbed the city. These people built any fort upon Far'un Tropical isle, known after that as Ile de Graye, 7km overseas. Ayla has been then retaken by Saladin and the fortification became referred to as Saladin's Fortress. In a counter-attack, the well-known crusader, Reynald de Chatillon, took this island then but dropped it once again to Islamic forces the next year.
Once the Mameluk Sultans of Egypt took power over the region, these people renamed the town Aqaba as well as, in the fourteenth century, constructed the town's famous Mameluk fort. The particular Mameluks have been followed by typically the Ottomans, who else ruled Aqaba for four centuries.
Aqaba was obtained from the Ottomans in 1917 by Arabic forces along with T. Electronic. Lawrence. In late World Battle I, often the British guaranteed Aqaba with regard to Jordan.
The current Aqaba Area Archaeological Art gallery is located in the current Aqaba home of Sherif Hussein Rubbish bin Ali alongside the Aqaba Castle.
The particular museum had been opened towards the public within 1990. Currently, it homes an important selection from the Islamic site associated with Ayla, went out with to the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid periods, therefore representing the particular Islamic intervals from the mid -7th to the start of the 12th millennium AD.
One of the exhibits is really a Kufic wording of "Ayat Al-Kursi" through the Holy Qur'an, which surmounted the far eastern (Egypt) door of the town, and a set of precious metal Fatimid dinars minted in Sajilmasa inside Morocco.
Aqaba is currently Jordan's just seaport. The significant place on the Asian tip from the Red Ocean is important with regard to marine as well as overland industry routes among Syria and also the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to being an important station upon the Hajj path. Finds from your Ayla excavations originating in typically the Hijaz, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco as well as much a field because China state to it is vitality like a seaport.
A good inscription within Arabic in the entrance door tells us Aqaba's Mamluk (Mameluke) fort (now known as Aqaba castle) had been built throughout the reign associated with Qansur Al-Ghuri (Qansuh al-Ghauri) (1510-17). Since that time, it has experienced a checkered history. Intervals of enhancement and restoration have been combined with serious damage. The fortification has offered as a caravanserai for pilgrims traveling to Great place as much as the military website.
The actual fort (currently closed with regard to renovation without any set reopening date) had been built among 1510 as well as 1517 because attested through the Arabic titer inside the breathtaking gateway, and also was used like a khan (travelers' inn) regarding pilgrims on the way to Great place. The Ottomans occupied the actual castle till WWI whenever, in 1917, the castle was considerably destroyed through shelling through the British Regal Navy. The particular Hashemite coating of hands above the primary entrance remembers the Arabic Revolt which swept via Aqaba, ousting the Turks.
Opening times:
Summer Time:
Sunday –Thursday 08:00 - 17; 00
Friday - Saturday 10:00 - 17:00
Winter Time:
Sunday –Thursday 08:00 - 16; 00
Friday - Saturday 10:00 - 16:00
ENTRANCE FEES
Location
Aqaba Castle / Hamima / Sharif Hussein Bin Ali Mosque
Jordanians
0.25 JD
Foreigners 3 JD Notes Includes the museum entrance fees.
