---
title: Hellenistic Palace Qasr Al-Abd
author: Carole Raddato
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8748/hellenistic-palace-qasr-al-abd/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Hellenistic Palace Qasr Al-Abd

_Authored by [Carole Raddato](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/FollowingHadrian/)_

## Image File

[![Hellenistic Palace Qasr Al-Abd](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8748.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8748.jpg)

## Image Caption

Qasr Al-Abd is a [Hellenistic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hellenic_World/) [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) dating from approximately 200 BCE whose ruins stand in western [Jordan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Jordan/), approximately 17 kilometers west of Amman. It is a two-story stone structure (measuring about 40 meters by 20 meters, and 13 meters high) and was described by [Flavius Josephus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Flavius_Josephus/) in the 1st century CE as a "strong fortress, which was constructed entirely of white marble up to the very roof and had beasts of gigantic size carved on it; and he enclosed it with a wide and deep moat". Little is known for sure about the actual history of this palace, but it is widely believed to have been built in the 2nd century BCE by Hyrcanus, head of the powerful Tobiad family (a Jewish faction at the beginning of the Maccabean period) and governor of the Kingdom of [Ammon](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ammon/).

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Carole maintains the popular ancient history photo-blog Following Hadrian, where she travels the ancient world in the footsteps of Emperor Hadrian.
- [Facebook Profile](https://www.facebook.com/FollowingHadrian)
- [X/Twitter Profile](https://twitter.com/carolemadge)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Raddato, C. (2018, May 11). Hellenistic Palace Qasr Al-Abd. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8748/hellenistic-palace-qasr-al-abd/>
### Chicago
Raddato, Carole. "Hellenistic Palace Qasr Al-Abd." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 11, 2018. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8748/hellenistic-palace-qasr-al-abd/>.
### MLA
Raddato, Carole. "Hellenistic Palace Qasr Al-Abd." *World History Encyclopedia*, 11 May 2018, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8748/hellenistic-palace-qasr-al-abd/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Carole Raddato](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/FollowingHadrian/ "User Page: Carole Raddato"), published on 11 May 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.