The Complex Roots of the Figures Modellate in Stucco inside the Khirbat al-Mafjar - Some Observations

Abstract

The paper refers to the decorative art made in stucco sculptures in the Umayyad palace at Khirbat al-Mafjar, a significant example of early Islamic cultural heritage in Palestine and worldwide. Khirbat al-Mafjar represents the Early Islamic architecture and decorative art as distinctive identity of Umayyad arts and architecture and as cultural interaction. For this reason, it is recommended to highlight the uniqueness of the representation of humans and animals in Umayyad decorative art as well as the identity of this art resulting from the synthesis of native Islamic elements and imported ones: Coptic, Roman and Sassanid.

Keywords

• islamic art
• stucco
• modelled figures
• umayyads
• khirbat al- mafjar
• symbology