The Baths of al-Walid at Qusayr ‘Amra

The Baths of al-Walid at Qusayr ‘Amra Alexander Brey Synopsis: Qusayr ʿAmra (sometimes called Qasr ʿAmra) is an eighth-century bathhouse located in eastern Jordan. Decorated for the Umayyad crown prince al-Walid ibn Yazid before he ascended to the caliphate in 743, the baths are filled with an astonishing variety of figural imagery. Synthesizing work by…

Water and Sound in Islamic Architecture

Water and Sound in Islamic Architecture Patricia Blessing Synopsis: This talk examines the presence and meaning of sound and water in pre-modern Islamic architecture. Examples include palaces, religious spaces, and a hospital to present a diverse picture of the ways in which water is present within architecture and human-made landscapes. The sound of water emerges…