Aleppo Citadel -- Ground Floor Plan -- Entrance Complex

 

(After Kennedy and Tabaa)

Much remains of Aleppo's medieval defenses, most notably the citadel. Nur al-Din (1147 -74) added an outwork or "fasil" to the city's existing curtain wall to join the already fortified but separate southeast suburb Qal'at al-Sharif to the main city defenses. Nur Al-Din's work also included a second circuit wall or "sur" in advance of the main city wall.
(Allen 1996)

Reference:

David Nicolle, "Saracen Strongholds, 1100 - 1500, The Central and Eastern Islamic Lands," Fortress 87, Osprey Pub., London, 2009

Fortress of Anavarza (Arabic: Ayn Zarba)

 

This fortress was constructed in the frontier zone between Islamic and Byzantine Empires. It was strongly refortified by the 'Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid in AD 796 and again by the Hamdanid Ruler of Aleppo in the tenth century AD.

1. largely abandoned pre-Islamic lower city;

2. lower castle surrounded by fortifications on northern and eastern sides, and by sheer cliffs on the southern and western sides;

3. surviving gate of lower castle, probably 'Abbasid late eighth century AD;

4. walls and towers largely rebuilt in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries AD;

5. first entrance complex to upper citadel, strengthened during Armenian period;

6. second entrance complex, probably Islamic, eighth to tenth centuries AD;

7. upper citadel


Reference:

D. Nicolle, "Saracen Strongholds AD 630-1050," Fortress 76, (Osprey Pub.-2008), P. 29

Citadel of Amman, Jordan

 

This Citadel was refortified during the late Umayyad period c. AD 725 -- 745, and restored in the ninth - tenth century following earthquake damage. The palace complex probably dates from the same period as the Umayyad fortifications (after A. Northedge).

1. inner courtyard leading to the throne room;

2. outer courtyard;

3. "hamam" (public baths) and cistern area;

4. well;

5. "rahba," (public square);

6. upper citadel;

7. lower citadel;

8. ruined Roman Temple;

9. main gate.

Reference:

David Nicolle, "Saracen Strongholds AD 630 -- 1050, The Middle East and Central Asia," Fortress 76, Osprey Pub. London, 2008.

Umayyad "desert palaces" in the Fertile Cresent

 

A. -- C. Development of Qasr Hallabat in Jordan, (after I. Arce);

A.--Late Roman "Limes Arabicus quadriburgium", fourth and fifth centuries AD;

B.--Ghassanid Arab "pretorium," sixth century following the earthquake of AD551;

C.--Umayyad palace and mosque, seventh and eighth centuries AD destroyed by an earthquake in AD 748 / 9;

1.--Original Roman second century AD fort enclosed by later Roman Fortifications;

2.--enlargement of Roman Fort in the second or third century AD;

3.--cistern;

4.--Umayyad palace;

5.--Umayyad mosque outside the fortifications.

Reference:

David Nicolle. "Saracen Strongholds AD 630 -- 1050, The Middle East and Central Asia," Fortress76, Osprey Pub., London, 2008

Early Islamic Qasr Atshan in Iraq

 

D. -- E. Early Islamic Qasr Atshan in Iraq probably the first half of the eighth century AD:

D.-- Plan;

E.--facade of the Iwan, vaulted reception hall;

1. Gate;

2. Courtyard;

3. Iwan;

4. Inner chambers.

Reference:

David Nicolle, "Saracen Strongholds, AD 630 --1050, The Middle East and Central Asia," Fortress 76, Osprey Pub., London, 2008.

Cairo Citadel

 

This drawing shows the fortifications and main internal structures in the late 12th to 14th centuries. Saladin's late 12th century fortifications are in black. Early 13th century "great towers" in grey:

1. Upper Enclosure;

2. Lower Enclosure;

3. Bir Yusef well;

4. Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad;

5. Great Iwan "reception hall of al-Nasir Muhammad";

6. Aqueduct from the Nile;

7. 'Maydon' Training Ground;

8. 'Toblakhanah';

9. Burj al-Ramlah tower (After Cresswell, Behrens, and Rabbat).

The Citadel of Cairo has remained a main fortress and military center into the modern times. Consequently most of Sultan al-Adil's buildings within the fortifications were replaced by newer structures during the Mameluke sultanate; then several Mameluke buildings were replaced by those of the Ottoman Turks, most of which were replaced by Muhammad Ali's 19th century reconstruction program. Even today modern additions to the citadel, such as a theatre, are useful for the people of Cairo, but have damaged certain historical remains.

Reference:

David Nicole, "Saracen Strongholds 1100-1500," Fortress 87, Osprey Pub. London, 2009, pp. 5, 56-57.

Osberg Ship Plan

 

Side and Top view of the reconstructed Osberg Ship Plan. Osberg is the oldest Viking ship found, and it and other like it were probably used in the the early Viking raids around the year AD800. It was probably a royal yacht for inshore use. The design is less seaworthy than younger ships. It is supposed by sailing men that the vessel could have made it to Britain during the Summer, but the hull and sailing gear were not nearly as sophisticated as the later ships.

The Osberg ship has oar holes for thirty oars, so we know that this propulsion method was in use some of the time.

Reference:

W. W. Fitzhugh (ed.), "Vikings, the North Atlantic Saga," (2000)