Gallery
Description
Property Name: Qasr al-Silah
Inventory No: 967-1-3
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2007-10-30
Country (State party): Yemen
Province: Sana’a
Town:
Geographic coordinates: 15° 21′ 15.15″ N
44° 13′ 18.81″ E
Historic Period: 9th century, 2nd half
Year of Construction: 872
Style: Yufirid
Original Use: Fortress
Current Use: Archeological park
Architect: Unknown
Significance
The citadel is an early example of Islamic architecture with some remains which date back to the pre-Islamic Sabaean period.
Selection Criteria
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
The citadel is generally rebuilt in the nineteenth century under the second Ottoman occupation of Yemen. It has been reconstructed and expanded many times throughout history. It still protects its own structure but it did not have big renovations.
References
Adams, Robert K. The Sana’a Urban Development Society: The Cast of Yemen. In Development and Urban Metamorphosis; Volume 1: Yemen at the Cross-Roads. Evin, Ahmet (ed). Singapore: Concept Media/The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 1983.
Davidson, Cynthia C. Conservation of Old Sana’a. In Architecture Beyond Architecture. Cynthia C. Davidson, and Ismail Serageldin, eds. : Academy Editions. London. 1995.
Galdieri, Eugenio. “La rénovation du centre historique de Sana’a (Yemen): enjeux, risques, résultats.” Environmental Design: Journal of the Islamic Environmental Design Research Centre 1-2 (1997-98-99): 202-207.
Lewcock, Robert. The Old City of Sana’a. In Development and Urban Metamorphosis; Volume 1: Yemen at the Cross-Roads. Evin, Ahmet (ed). Concept Media/The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Singapore. 1983.
Smith, Patty. “The Old City of Sana’a.” Environmental Design: Journal of the Islamic Environmental Design Research Centre 2 .1986.
Varanda, Fernando. The Art of Building. In Art of Building in Yemen. Ph.D diss., University of Durham, 1994.
UNESCO World Heritage Web Site: http://whc.unesco.org/
Archnet Web Site: http://archnet.org/