The Umayyad complex on the Citadel in Amman: A Landscape of Authority

In the Umayyad period Amman wasthe capital of al - Balqa , a sub –governarate of Jund Dimashq (themilitary province of Damascus), whichindicates its importance in the Umayyadadministrative system.The construction of Dar al - Imarawas accompanied by the rebuilding of thecitadel’s surrounding walls which in theByzantine period were in a state ofdisrepair the layout of Dar al - Imara is regular and is clearly the product of acarefully thought out planThe complexincluded a reception hall ,a mosque ,a uqand a bath , the constituent elements of anIslamic city. This became like a separatecity hiding in the shadows of thesurrounding walls and shut off from thebustle of downtown Amman. Visitorsseeking audience with the governor were obliged to wait at the monumentalgateway and then walk through acourtyard and a paved colonnaded streetbefore being presentedThe Dar al- Imarathus became not only an administrativecentre but also a symbol of authority andpower.