Ancient armored figures unearthed near jericho
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Archaeologists in Khirbet al-Mafjar, north of Jericho in Palestine, discovered three fragmented statues depicting armored men dating back to the Umayyad period.
The statues came to light during excavations of the ruins of a palace built under Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Though none of the statues are complete, the remaining pieces reveal varied artistic styles and structures, suggesting they represent different members of the Umayyad army.
One statue shows a standing figure holding a sword and shield, clearly influenced by classical Roman style in its anatomy and traditional attire. Another consists of two sections, a torso and legs, representing a figure in a Sasanian-style robe with a distinctive woven pattern. The third is a bust of a soldier wearing a wide helmet, with facial features consistent with other sculptures found at the palace of Khirbet al-Mafjar.
These sculptures, along with similar finds from sites like Qusayr Amra in Jordan and the palaces of al-Hayr in Syria, demonstrate a revival of sculptural art during the Umayyad dynasty after a decline in the Byzantine period. The Umayyads adopted sculpture, particularly for use in civilian architecture, and these statues offer insight into the military figures who were part of their society. The figures reflect local artistic trends and demonstrate the continuation of sculptural traditions in the region.
