“This 2,200-year-old palace was built from some of the largest stone blocks in the Middle East, carved with giant lions and eagles.”
About Qasr al-Abad
Qasr al-Abad is traditionally linked to Hyrcanus, a member of the wealthy Tobiad family, who is said to have built it in the early 2nd century BC as a palace or grand residence. Constructed from enormous stone blocks and adorned with carved felines and birds of prey, it was left unfinished. Earthquakes toppled much of it, but it has been re-erected, and it remains a rare and important Hellenistic monument.
About Qasr al-Abad
Qasr al-Abad, near Iraq al-Amir west of Amman, is a rare and remarkable Hellenistic palace dating from the 2nd century BC, set in a green valley of olive groves and pomegranate orchards. Built from some of the largest stone blocks in the Middle East and carved with great animals, it is one of the very few surviving monuments from the Hellenistic period in Jordan.
Qasr al-Abad, near Iraq al-Amir west of Amman, is a rare and remarkable Hellenistic palace dating from the 2nd century BC, set in a green valley of olive groves and pomegranate orchards.
A Palace of Giant Stones and Stone Lions
The palace was built around 2,200 years ago, traditionally attributed to Hyrcanus of the powerful Tobiad family, using colossal stone blocks, some among the largest used in any ancient building in the region. Its facades were decorated with carved animals, including great lions and eagles, and a frieze of lions and a panther near a fountain. The combination of monumental masonry and lively animal sculpture makes it a unique survival of Hellenistic ambition.
The Experience
You visit a striking ruin in a peaceful, fertile valley dotted with olives and pomegranates, marveling at the immense building stones and the carved lions, panther and eagle that decorate its walls and fountain. Quiet and rarely crowded, it offers an easy and rewarding escape from Amman, combining intriguing ancient architecture with a gentle rural landscape and nearby village caves.
Why It Matters
Qasr al-Abad is one of the few substantial Hellenistic-era monuments in Jordan and a unique example of the period's architecture and sculpture in the region. Its giant stones and animal carvings shed light on the wealth and culture of the Tobiad dynasty, making it a significant and unusual site near the capital.
Qasr al-Abad is one of the few substantial Hellenistic-era monuments in Jordan and a unique example of the period's architecture and sculpture in the region.
Why Visit
A rare Hellenistic palace near Amman, built of giant stone blocks and carved with lions and eagles, set in a peaceful valley of olive and pomegranate groves.
✦ Insider Tips
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Note the colossal stone blocks and carved lions and eagles.
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It is a rare Hellenistic monument, from the 2nd century BC.
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The valley of olives and pomegranates is lovely in spring.
