Qasr Amra

Qasr Amra. This castle houses some of the most exquisite frescoes anywhere in the Middle East. They are thought to be early examples of pictorial art made in the Islamic era, having been painted during the middle years of the 8th Century AD. It was originally built as a bath house rather than a fortress. The building consists of three long aisles, lying parallel to each other, with vaulted ceilings. Directly in front of the main doorway is a fresco of the Caliph sitting on his throne. On the south wall another fresco depicts the enemies of Islam. The auditorium chamber, used for easting meetings and cultural events, leads to the baths. Here the walls are adorned with vignettes and panels depicting athletic scenes, hunting scenes, and illustrations of wildlife and fantastic images such as a bear playing a lute. One of the bathrooms has a domed ceiling whose fresco depicts the heavens, showing the constellations of the northern hemisphere and signs of the Zodiac.