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Qasr Ibn Wardan قصر ابن وردان | |
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Village | |
 Remains of the Byzantine palace at Qasr Ibn Wardan | |
  Qasr Ibn Wardan Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates:35°22′25″N37°14′51″E / 35.37352283890921°N 37.24739786434708°E /35.37352283890921; 37.24739786434708 | |
| Country | Syria |
| Governorate | Hama |
| District | Hama |
| Subdistrict | Hamraa |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 467 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| City Qrya Pcode | C3105 |
Qasr Ibn Wardan (Arabic:قصر ابن وردان) is a hamlet and 6th-century archaeological site located in theSyrian Desert, approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) northeast fromHama and about 19 kilometres (12 mi) northeast ofal-Hamraa. The hamlet is separated from the Byzantine-era ruins by a road, with the former situated to the east of the road and the ruins situated to the west. According to theSyria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Qasr Ibn Wardan had a population of 467 in the 2004 census.[1]
The complex of a palace, church andbarracks was erected in the mid-6th century byByzantine EmperorJustinian I (r. 527–565) as a part of a defensive line (together withResafa andHalabiye) against theSassanid Empire. Its unique style, imported directly fromConstantinople and not found anywhere else in present-day Syria, was probably chosen to impress localBedouin tribes and to consolidate control over them.Basalt was brought from areas far north or south from the site and marble columns and capitals are thought to have been brought fromApamea.
Nothing remains of the barracks today. The palace was probably the local governor's residence as well. Its best-preserved part is the southern façade ofalternating bands of basalt black and brick yellow. There are remains of stables in the northern part of the site and a smallbath complex at the eastern part of the palace with a central courtyard. The function of each room was indicated by a carved stone.
The church was square-shaped with a centralnave and two sideaisles. Its remains currently stand just west of the palace and is architecturally similar to it, but a slightly smaller. Originally, the church was topped by a large dome (only apendentive remains until today) and displays an example of early Byzantine dome-building techniques. Originally, three sides of the church (only northern and southern walls remain) had upper floor galleries reserved for women. The fourth side is finished by a typical Byzantine semicircular and half-domedapse.
The town and historical site was recaptured and secured by the SAA on 8 February 2018 from ISIS.[2]
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