Iraq Al-Amir
Nestling in a lush green valley west of Amman, Iraq, el-Amir (‘Caverns of the Prince’) is an archaeological site from the Hellenistic period. Its most striking feature is a magnificent two-story high building built of mass-size ashlar stones. In Arabic Qasr el-Abd (‘Castle of the Servant’), the mansion is identified as the palace of Hyrcanus, a Jewish Tuviah family member overseeing regional tax collecting in the 2nd century BCE. According to historian Josephus Flavius, Hyrcanus built a manor house in the family’s estate, Tyros, which included images of animals. Indeed, the structure bears reliefs of lions, leopards, and eagles.
Hyrcanus… seated himself beyond Jordan, and …erected a strong castle, and built it entirely of white stone to the very roof, and had animals of a prodigious magnitude engraved upon it. He also drew round it a great and deep canal of water. He also made caves of many furlongs in length, by hollowing a rock that was over against him; and then he made large rooms in it [the rock], some for feasting, and some for sleeping and living in. (Ant. 12:232-233)
Archaeological Research at Iraq Al-Amir
By Josephus’ writings, along the cliffs around Qasr el-Abd, archaeologists recorded 15 caves carved for different purposes. At the entrance to one of them, the word ‘Tuviah’ is chiseled in big letters. A French expedition excavated the castle in 1976-1982, followed by a partial reconstruction project. In 2018, a small visitor center opened at the site.
Touring Iraq Al-Amir
The site is open year-round and is free of charge. It is best to visit it in the spring when the valley is in beautiful spring blossom. The valley of Iraq el-Amir is also a popular picnic destination among locals.
A visit to Iraq el-Amir can be combined with a multi-day tour of Jordan.
