Aqaba Castle

Aqaba Castle

ِAncient Aqaba

The actual Aqaba Castle, Mameluke Fort or Aqaba Castle, situated in Aqaba, Jordan, is a castle originally constructed by Crusaders in the twelfth century as well as named Helim. Ayla (ancient Aqaba Castle) had been recaptured through Saladin within 1187 and also the fortress has been destroyed until it finally was re-manufactured in the earlier 16th millennium under the Mameluke 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 Allen by. The particular port associated with Aqaba grew to become a major provider base for your advancing Arabic Revolt.

Lawrence rode

Typically the fort is situated next to the particular Aqaba Castle Flagpole, which bears the banner of the Arab-speaking revolt from the Ottomans. Next to the fortification is the Aqaba Castle Archaeological Art gallery, which was when the Sharif Hussein's residence

The actual 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 Allen by. The particular port associated with Aqaba Castle 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.

Mameluke sultanate

Just a few blocks away from the coast from the corniche on the Gulf of Aqaba Castle, Mameluke Fortress is the site of a single of the most popular battles from the First Globe War. The actual battle, a section of the Arab Rise?  the mutiny that taken through Aqaba Castle 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 Mameluke 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 maintains, 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-heated.

The actual 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 Castle dating back in order to 4000 BC, as well as a 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.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Actual port town

Aqaba Castle 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 Subtil 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.

town's famous Mameluk fort

The center Ages had been turbulent many years for Ayla. In the twelfth century, particular 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 Castle 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 Castle for four centuries.

Aqaba Castle 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 Castle with regard to Jordan.

The Aqaba Archaeological Museum

Islamic intervals

The actual Aqaba Area Archaeological Art gallery is located in the actual 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.

Ayla 

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 as much a field because China state to it is vitality like a seaport.

Step into Aqaba Castle

A good inscription within Arabic in the entrance door tells us Aqaba Castle 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 chequered 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.

Aqaba Fort

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.