Men Column Shrine in Nablus

Description of the site: It is considered the largest and most important shrine in Nablus, given its location and association with important archaeological and historical monuments, especially in the city of Nablus, throughout the ages. The shrine is also distinguished by the diversity of its components, and the beauty and accuracy of its architectural elements, especially the high stone domes above its rooms, in addition to six inscriptions still present on some of its facades, which date this place and its owner. The shrine was built in front of the gate of the eastern Roman city of Nablus, and from the southern end of the shrine begins the stone staircase that ascends to Tal al-Ras, where the Temple of Jupiter was located in the Roman period. In 1927 AD, the Al-Mankoubin neighborhood was built west of the shrine due to the earthquake that struck the city. Then the neighborhood developed and became known recently as the Khilt Al-Amoud neighborhood. To the east of it, about 200 m, was the Ottoman prison of Al-Qishla, and next to it was the Romanian burial spring.The shrine is attributed to its founder, Sheikh Muhammad Amoud al-Nour al-Amoudi, who died and was buried in the same shrine in 799 AH. He had three sons, two of whom were buried next to their father's grave, while the third departed to Mecca. Where he lived and was buried there, and the Al-Amoudi family belonged to the owner of the shrine. The family is still burying their dead in the cemetery attached to the shrine on its eastern side, and they are serving the shrine to the present time.The shrine holds a special status for the residents of the city of Nablus, as they used to perform the rain prayers and the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers in it, and the Sufi sects used to hold sessions of remembrance, recitation, and teaching of the Quran. The shrine consists of several rooms, the oldest of which is the southern room, called the prayers' room. It is a very beautiful room topped with a high, fine-built stone dome that distributes positive and spiritual energies around its surroundings to pass the lighting and ventilation of the room. Its walls include several niches to keep books and the needs of the shrine's owner, and its southern wall mediates the niche. In front of the memorial room from the north side, is a hall that includes the tomb of the Sheikh and two other graves for his sons. A stone column stands out in the facade of the northern hall, and some believe that the name of the shrine and its owner is related to this column. An inscription dates to the shrine's construction, and identifies its owner and founder at the top of the southern facade of the hall.The burial chamber is connected to another room from the northern side, the Imam Ali Hall. To its side, from the north side, is the cave room, or the cave of the forty, and its entrance is surmounted by three inscriptions. On the eastern side of the shrine, there are three separate rooms known as the Prophet Sheeth (Chit) room, the Al-Khidr room, and the third is unknown. Architectural analysis of the shrine components indicates that it was built during successive periods. Many of its sections were demolished and rebuilt during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods, and cement rooms, halls, and facilities were added to it, reflecting negatively on the external appearance of the shrine.