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AL-BAB AS-SAGHIR (AD-...

AL-BAB AS-SAGHIR (AD-DIRWAZAH)

Muscat, Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Teakwood and iron 13th century AH/19th century CE (al-Busaid Dynasty) The precise origins of this gate are unknown. However, it appears on De Resende’s drawing of Muscat in a manuscript by the Portuguese António Bocarro entitled Livro do Estado da India Oriental (1041–42 AH/1632 CE). Literally meaning ‘The Small Gate’, it provided entry from the south and led directly into the old Muscat market (sūq) and featured a walkway over the moat. It is assumed that this gate was originally the main entrance into the town before the expansion of Bab at-Tuyan – later renamed al-Bab al-Kabir – in the 14th century AH/20th century CE. This is attested by the Plan of the Port of Muscat by Louis-François-Grégoire de Lafitte de Brassier, a French lieutenant engineer and geographer, dated 1191–92 AH/1778 CE.

MASHRABIYYAH

MASHRABIYYAH

Bait Fransa (Muscat Governorate) Stucco c. 13th century AH/19th century CE (al-Busaid Dynasty)

TILE FRAGMENT The Gr...

TILE FRAGMENT The Great Mosque, Qalhat (ash-Sharqiyah North Governorate)

Origin: Kashan, Persia Glazed earthenware c. 654–735 AH/1256–1335 CE (Kingdom of Hormuz) This fragment of a square tile features a moulded tri-lobed arch painted in blue with a gold lustre-painted background. The lustre on this fragment has now almost completely vanished and is visible only in oblique light. It was based on a floral stem motif and was a prevalent form of decoration on the Kashan tiles manufactured for the Great Mosque.

‘QALHAT’ TILES The G...

‘QALHAT’ TILES The Great Mosque, Qalhat (ash-Sharqiyah North Governorate)

Origin: Probably Qalhat Glazed earthenware 8th–9th centuries AH/14th–15th centuries CE In addition to Kashan tiles, the Great Mosque was decorated with simple tile elements, which were probably made locally at Qalhat. These included crosses and stars with a rich green, dark blue or turquoise glaze and were arranged to create interlacing geometric patterns along the bottom of the qiblah wall or possibly along the base and openings of small half-cupolas. The various tile elements were cut into halves or quarters to create the borders and corners of the panels. Similar tiles were also used for the decoration of Bibi Maryam’s mausoleum. The theory of local tile production is supported by the discovery at Qalhat of a pottery kiln, dating from the 8th century AH/14th century CE, which produced glazed pottery vessels with a chemical composition similar to that of the tiles.

GATE

ash-Shibak Fort, Ibra (ash-Sharqiyah North Governorate) Origin: Surat, India (Mughal Empire) Teak wood and brass 1126 AH/1714 CE (al-Yarubi Dynasty) This magnificent gate once guarded the entrance to ash-Shibak Fort. Also known as al-Bait al-Kabir (literally ‘the Big House’), ash-Shibak Fort was built by Sheikh Ahmad bin Rabia’a al-Ismaili al-Himyari, a leading figure of the Yaruba Imamate under the rule of Imam Sultan bin Saif II al-Yarubi. The carving on the gate features calligraphic, floral and animal motifs including the coat of arms of Britain, and an Arabic inscription that reads: Made in Surat To the Great Lord [al-Sayyid] In Muharram in Ahmad al-Ismaili the year 1126 AH al-Himyari [may he] consolidate Islam Today, the gate stands as a unique example of defensive artistry and bears witness to the strong commercial and political ties that existed between Oman and India during the time of the al-Yaruba Imams, the Mughal Empire and the British East India Company.

HOSPITAL FOUNDATION S...

HOSPITAL FOUNDATION STONE

Origin: Mattrah (Sultanate of Muscat and Oman) Marble 15 Thu al-Qa’dah 1327 AH/29 November 1909 CE (Sultanate of Muscat and Oman)

AL-BAB AL-KABIR

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE Muscat (Sultanate of Muscat and Oman) Marble 1354 AH/1935–36 CE (al-Busaid Dynasty)

BUHLA FORT

BUHLA FORT

Buhla Oasis is one of the oases in the interior of Oman, characterised by its wide area, irrigation channels (aflaj), and density of palm tree plantations. It is a walled, fortified oasis consisting of 18 living quarters. The earliest human settlement in the oasis dates back to the 3rd millennium BCE. Buhla Fort and the Grand Mosque (al-Jami) rest on two adjacent hills in the centre of the oasis, while the old Buhla wall is located west of the fort. There are many pottery workshops on the northern parts of the oasis. Triangular in shape, Buhla Fort is considered the largest mud-brick and stone fort in the country, built on an area of around 9,000 square metres. It consists of three main parts. The first is the old fort (al-Qasabah), which is the oldest part, almost dating back to the Parthian period (250 BCE–230 CE). It was expanded and developed by Sassanid and Nabahina kings, particularly King Suleiman bin Suleiman an-Nabhani (9th century AH/15th century CE) who added the eastern corner (Arar). The second part is Mountain House (Bait al-Jabal), which dates back to the 12th century AH/18th century CE (al-Yarubi Dynasty). The third part is New House (al-Bait al-Hadith), which dates back to the mid-13th century AH/19th century CE (al-Busaid Dynasty). In addition to these three parts, there are other structures such as walls, defensive towers, prisons and horse stalls. It is believed that the earliest resident of the fort was the Abbasid wali Ahmad bin Hilal during his first term in the time of Caliph al-Mu’tadid Billah (r. 279–289 AH/792–902 CE). Ahmad bin Hilal chose Buhla as his capital. The fort served as a seat of government for the Nabahina kings in different periods between 6th–11th centuries AH/12th–17th centuries CE, when Buhla was their capital, and was also used by the al-Yarubi and al-Busaidi rulers. Buhla Fort was the first Omani site added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1407 AH/1987 CE.

NAZWA FORT

Nazwa Fort and Castle, although adjacent to one another, are two distinct architectural entities. The older of these is the castle, built by Imam as-Salt bin Malik al-Kharusi, Oman’s ruler at the time of the second Imamate Period (r. 237–272 AH/851–885 CE), when he moved his capital from Sohar to Nazwa. Strategically sited in the heart of the city, the castle was used as a seat of government and official residence, and served as Nazwa’s political, administrative and intellectual centre for more than a thousand years. The castle was renewed during the reign of Imam Nasir bin Murshid al-Yarubi in 1034 AH/1625 CE. Later in the same century (c. 1066–77 AH/ 1656–67 CE), Imam Sultan bin Saif al-Yarubi built the immense circular fort that still dominates Nazwa today. The fort took nearly 12 years to complete and represented all the elements of a state-of-the-art defensive tower based on the use of firepower. The Ministry of National Heritage and Culture conducted restoration works in the castle and the fort from 1408–10 AH/1988–90 CE, and they were officially opened to the public on 28 Jumada al-Ula 1441 AH/ 16 December 1990 CE.

AR-RUSTAQ FORT

The great fort at ar-Rustaq is the second largest in Oman, after Buhla. Prevailing belief holds that the fort was built on Sassanid ruins around 648 AH/1250 CE and rebuilt during the early years of the al-Yarubi Dynasty (1034–59 AH/1624–49 CE). The present building comprises two interconnected structures and has four imposing defensive towers: the Wind Tower (Burj ar-Rih), the Devil’s Tower (Burj ash-Shayatin), the Red Tower (al-Burj al-Ahmar) and the Modern Tower (al-Burj al-Hadith). The fort rose to prominence as the strategic base of Imam Nassir bin Murshid al-Yarubi, the founder of the Yarubi Dynasty, who established ar-Rustaq as the capital of a united Oman and liberated much of the northern coast from Portuguese occupation. A century later Imam Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi, the founder of the al-Busaid Dynasty (r. 1162–98 AH/ 1749–83 CE), used the fort as his seat of government and it remained a significant centre of power and authority until modern times. The fort has undergone several phases of restoration under the auspices of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture.

MUSCAT

is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, the seat of government and the center of the state administrative apparatus, representing a vital hub of economic and commercial activity. Muscat has been described by the earliest Arab sources from 3rd–7th centuries AH/9th–13th centuries CE as a fishing village and a station for supplying fresh water to ships bound for the Indian Ocean. The town gained its importance as a commercial port under the Kingdom of Hormuz during the 4th century AH/10th century CE. Its influence was further expanded when the Portuguese adapted the town as their regional base in 1031–32 AH/1622 CE. During the reign of Sayyid Hamad bin Said al-Busaidi (r. 1199–1206 AH/ 1784–92 CE) Muscat became the capital of the al-Busaid Dynasty until the reign of Sultan Sayyid Said bin Sultan al-Busaidi. He transferred the capital to Stone Town in Zanzibar in 1255–56 AH/1840 CE. Muscat became the capital of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman again during the reign of Sultan Sayyid Thuwaini bin Said al-Busaidi (r. 1273–82 AH/ 1856–66 CE) and continued until the dawn of the modern nation’s Renaissance on 19 Jumada al-Ula 1390 AH/23 July 1970 CE when it became the capital of the unified Sultanate of Oman.

The lock houses (Buyū...

The lock houses (Buyūt al-Qifl)

are a form of architecture unique to the Governorate of Musandam. Their three-metre long walls are built with stones of different sizes. Ceilings are made of wood (sidr – Zizyphus spina-christi), and cavities in walls are mortared with lime or mud. The houses consist of a single one-metre deep underground room. The exit of the room is a deep opening in one side of the main wall, closed by a heavy wooden door usually made of sidr and placed in two solid stone molds. The door is bigger than the exit, stretching from floor to ceiling. The lock house (Bait al-Qifl) is used by locals during the seasonal migration from the mountain to the coast to protect their belongings and store food and water in large pottery vessels (khars). These vessels were installed at the time of construction as they are larger than the door to the lock house. The houses are secured by an elaborate locking system, which gives the structure its name.

BAIT FRANSA

Situated between al-Bab al-Kabir and the old Muscat market (suq), Bait Fransa (literally ‘House of France’) was reputedly built as a residence for Sayyidah Ghaliyah bint Salim al-Busaidiyah around 1226–36 AH/1830–40 CE. Based on a classic, two-storey square plan, it featured elegant rooms and a decorated balcony overlooking a tranquil inner courtyard. In 1311–12 AH/1894 CE the building was offered to the first French Consul in Muscat, and it subsequently served as a consulate and a residence for a succession of 13 French heads of mission. Bait Fransa underwent extensive restoration in the 1410s AH/1990s CE and is now a museum dedicated to the history of Franco-Omani relations. The museum was inaugurated by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and François Mitterrand, the President of France, on 24 Rajab 1412 AH/29 January 1992 CE.

AL-BAIT AL-‘AOD

AL-BAIT AL-‘AOD

(literally ‘The Big House’) is a traditional two-story residence built by Mas`ud bin Humaid at-Toqi in the 13th century AH/18th century CE, as indicated in the rich inscriptions on its ceiling. The wooden windows and doors, including the main door, were brought from India. Successive generations of occupants left numerous inscriptions in the upper storey of the house, referring to births, deaths and other events of significance. The ownership of the house was transferred to the heirs of Mas’ud at-Toqi, and was eventually sold to Muhammad bin Salim at-Toqi (d. 17 Shawwal 1365 AH/13 September 1946 CE). The house was to assume a particularly prominent role during Muhammad at-Toqi’s lifetime. People in need regularly visited him, and were welcomed. The eastern wing of the house was transformed into an office and library, and the upper vestibule (al-‘arshah) was used to receive distinguished guests from near and far.

SOHAR FORT

There are conflicting views regarding the origin of Sohar Fort. Some historical accounts date it to as early as 10–11 AH/632 CE; others record that it was built by Imam al-Warith bin Ka’b al-Kharusi in 132–133 AH/ 750 CE on the remains of a previous fortification; and still others ascribe its construction to Baha’ ad-Din Ayaz, the sovereign prince of Hormuz (r. 693–711 AH/1294–1312 CE). The Portuguese renovated and expanded the fort in 1028 AH/1618 CE and 1031 AH/1621 CE. Sohar Fort ranged from square to rectangular in plan over time, and variously served as a military, political and administrative stronghold for rulers of the Yarubi and Busaid dynasties and for Hispano-Portuguese invasive forces. It was also used in previous centuries during the rule of the early Ibadhi imams, Wajihid and Hormuzi. In modern times, the fort was renovated under the auspices of Sultan Sayyid Said bin Taimur al-Said c. 1378 AH/1958 CE and was further restored under His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Architectural Heritage

AL-BAB AS-SAGHIR (AD-...

MASHRABIYYAH

TILE FRAGMENT The Gr...

‘QALHAT’ TILES The G...

GATE

HOSPITAL FOUNDATION S...

AL-BAB AL-KABIR

BUHLA FORT

NAZWA FORT

AR-RUSTAQ FORT

MUSCAT

The lock houses (Buyū...

BAIT FRANSA

AL-BAIT AL-‘AOD

SOHAR FORT