1 June 2015: Iraq al-Amir & Qasr al-Abd

1 June 2015

Iraq al-Amir (Caves of the Prince)

Iraq al-Amir.

The site's name derives from the nearby cave system. Two caves feature the Hebrew inscription TBWH (Tobiah) that connects this place with the Tobiad dynasty mentioned in the Old Testament. The Tobiad family were supporters of the Ptolemies. When Hyrcanus of the Tobiads returned from Egypt at the end of the 3rd or in the early 2nd century BCE, he built a palace called Tyros. Today the palace is known as Qasr al-Abd.

Iraq al-Amir. Modern village on the right. Stairs leading to the caves on the left.

Cave entrance. Hebrew inscription on the right.

The scale of this cave is impressive.

Qasr al-Abd (Fortress of the Servant)

Qasr al-Abd.

The focal point of Iraq al-Amir is the Hellenistic palace that was part of a large estate. It stood at the center of a walled court, of which little remains. Around it was an irrigated area and artificial lake. The name Qasr al-Abd (Fortress of the Servant) may come from a reference in 2 Nehemiah 10:19 to Tobiah, the servant. The palace building is constructed of massive white limestone blocks.

Qasr al-Abd. East wall.

Qasr al-Abd. West wall.

The exterior of the palace was decorated with relief and architectural sculpture. At ground level, the limestone breccia leopard fountains project from the building's long sides (west and east walls). The upper facade supports lion carvings. The half-column and pilaster capitals are nicely sculpted as well.

Qasr al-Abd. Leopard fountain.

Qasr al-Abd. Lion carving. 

Qasr al-Abd. Half-column and pilaster capitals. North entrance.

The pairs of columns, half-columns, and pilasters frame the north entrance to the palace. The colonnettes are perched on top of the south wall.

Qasr al-Abd. North wall.

Qasr al-Abd. North entrance.

Qasr al-Abd. Interior.

Qasr al-Abd. South wall.

The death of Hyrcanus in 175 BCE may have interrupted the construction of the palace. The fourth-century earthquake afflicted much damage on the building, but French archaeologists restored it in 1980.

Further reading:

Will, Ernest. 'Iraq al-Amir: le chateau du tobiade Hyrcan. Paris: Librairie orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1991-2005.