Widyan Baram Jewish
Supervised by Asst. Prof. Fatima Saloum Ismail
Archaeological and Heritage Sites of Karbala Governorate
1- Al-Akhdir Palace: It is one of the best palaces that have remained in its general form. This landmark is considered one of the essential and significant monuments. It is about 51 km from the city of Karbala from the southwest. Historians differed in the origin of its name and determining the time of its construction. Some say it dates back to the pre-Islamic era, and others say it is an Islamic monument. However, some historians agree that it is an Arab-Islamic monument and that its construction dates back to the second half of the second century AH. These historians have proven that its style, architecture, and place of residence are on the desert road and that the Arab tribes always prefer to reside in it. Whatever the case, it is a vast, meaningful, and famous monument. (Al-Jumaili and Shamto, 2017: 13)
2- Al-Tar Caves
It is considered one of the oldest archaeological sites. This critical site, referred to by most historical books that talk about the honorable history of Karbala, dates back more than five thousand years. This monument is located Halfway to Al-Akhdar Palace; it is on a rocky hill about 30 km from Karbala and 15 km northeast of Al-Akhdar Palace. It remains to this day, but it has been neglected. (https: \\www.ina.iq)
3- Al-Aqsir Church
This church is one of the remains of a Christian city built in the fourth century AD, according to what was mentioned by the Orientalists who visited the city of Karbala and saw it during their visit. The stories mention that it was a refuge for those who took revenge on the Byzantine Church, and after its establishment, it became an essential center of the Kingdom of Al-Hirah. This city, which had an area of more than 400 thousand square meters, includes many graves, churches, monasteries, and other critical areas in addition to its fertile agricultural land. (Shamto, 72: 2011)
4- Mujda Minaret:
It is one of the historical and archaeological landmarks in the holy city of Karbala. This ancient archaeological minaret is located on the road leading to Ain Al-Tamr district and is 40 km away from the center of Karbala city. It is about 14 km south of the caves of Al-Tar and is located on a high plateau halfway between Khan Al-Atashan, which is about 10 km south of it. It was called Mujda, meaning fire, because of the lighting of fires on its summit at night.
The commercial caravans that came from the East and returned from the West suffer from neglect. (karbala-athar<https://c-karbala.com)
5- Shimon Palace:
One of the prominent archaeological landmarks in the city of Ain Al-Tamr is Shimon Palace, named after its owner, Shimon bin Jaber. Some of the castle’s remaining substantial high walls are due to neglect over the past eras (Encyclopedia of Karbala Civilization, 178: 2017).
