Alex
Hammam as-Sarah, situated in Jordan’s Zarqa Governorate, is a remarkable example of Umayyad-era architecture, reflecting both functional design and aesthetic detail. Constructed with finely dressed limestone blocks, the bathhouse’s exterior showcases a harmonious blend of robust construction and decorative elements. The building features a rectangular audience hall and a series of bath chambers, including the apodyterium (changing room), tepidarium (warm room), and caldarium (hot room). Notably, the caldarium is topped with a dome that was originally coated with rose-tinted cement, punctuated by decorative apertures allowing ambient light to filter into the space. This dome rests on pendentives, a structural feature that transitions the square base to the circular dome, demonstrating the architectural ingenuity of the period.
Surrounding the main structure are remnants of a sophisticated hydraulic system, including a water well, a sāqiyah (water-lifting device), and an elevated water tank, which supplied water to the bathhouse . Additionally, the site encompasses the foundations of a walled garden with a fountain basin, indicating the integration of leisure and utility in the complex’s design . The exterior walls, adorned with carved mouldings and fluted door jambs, reflect the artistic sensibilities of the Umayyad period. Though time has weathered much of the original decoration, ongoing restoration efforts have aimed to preserve and highlight these architectural features, allowing visitors to appreciate the historical and cultural significance of Hammam as-Sarah.
