Oman is a treasure trove of historical defensive structures
Published: 03:10 PM,Oct 18,2023 | EDITED : 08:10 PM,Oct 18,2023
The Sultanate of Oman stores more than 500 forts, watchtowers, and citadels dotting its coast and inner regions. Many of these historical landmarks remain undiscovered, concealed by the passage of time and the remoteness of their locations. These enduring bastions bear witness to Oman's tumultuous history, marked by the presence of various invaders and occupants, including Persians, Parthians, Portuguese, and Ottomans, the legacy of which can be seen in the stone monuments and mud-brick defensive architecture that still stands.
While the history of some Omani forts, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site Bahla, dating back to the pre-Islamic era, is well-documented, others remain shrouded in mystery, waiting to be unveiled. Among these enigmatic fortresses, at least five stand as 'phantom citadels' in the remote areas along the Al Hajar mountain chain, stretching 300 kilometres westward from the Gulf of Oman coast. These relics are slowly crumbling into obscurity, neglected by official efforts.
One such elusive citadel is Ras al Hosn, perched on a mound in a rugged canyon, accessible only by a two-hour hike along an exposed mule trail. Its vantage point on the edge of a sheer cliff overlooking the wadi below and the surrounding terrain suggests its impregnability, hinting at a history intertwined with ancient conflicts. However, the details of its construction, the wars it witnessed, and its builders remain elusive.
Similarly, Hosn al Furs, known as the 'Fort of the Persians,' stands atop a hill at the convergence of two canyons in the Al Hajar mountains. Surrounded by a high fence and accessible only via an arduous one-hour trek, the fort's age and origin remain veiled in uncertainty, though its name suggests Persian origins.
“The Persians probably built it, as the name indicates,” said Mubarak, a Al Hijir resident.
Al Hadash fort, overlooking Wadi Mistal, is another anonymous vestige, positioned near the village of Hadash. It reportedly drew the attention of British soldiers stationed in Oman during the 1950s, who discovered ancient pottery with pre-Islamic inscriptions. Despite this intriguing find, the fort remains largely unexplored, with authorities yet to research its history comprehensively.
“Several years ago, during the Jabal war in the mid-’50s, some British soldiers found potteries with inscriptions dating before Islam,” said Mubarak.
Hosn Hbeish, situated at the foot of Jabal Shams, Oman's highest mountain, has a local legend associated with it.
“According to the legend, Hbeish resided there with his wife, and a tragic incident involving his brother and the construction of the fort's fence forms the centrepiece of the story,” Suleiman al Abri, a resident of the nearby village of Al Wijmah, recounted.
The sheer abundance of these defensive monuments, built over centuries by different civilisations, presents a formidable challenge for conservation efforts in Oman. Preserving and researching these historical structures is a costly and monumental task that requires both financial resources and a commitment to uncovering the secrets hidden within these enigmatic fortresses.
While the history of some Omani forts, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site Bahla, dating back to the pre-Islamic era, is well-documented, others remain shrouded in mystery, waiting to be unveiled. Among these enigmatic fortresses, at least five stand as 'phantom citadels' in the remote areas along the Al Hajar mountain chain, stretching 300 kilometres westward from the Gulf of Oman coast. These relics are slowly crumbling into obscurity, neglected by official efforts.
One such elusive citadel is Ras al Hosn, perched on a mound in a rugged canyon, accessible only by a two-hour hike along an exposed mule trail. Its vantage point on the edge of a sheer cliff overlooking the wadi below and the surrounding terrain suggests its impregnability, hinting at a history intertwined with ancient conflicts. However, the details of its construction, the wars it witnessed, and its builders remain elusive.
Similarly, Hosn al Furs, known as the 'Fort of the Persians,' stands atop a hill at the convergence of two canyons in the Al Hajar mountains. Surrounded by a high fence and accessible only via an arduous one-hour trek, the fort's age and origin remain veiled in uncertainty, though its name suggests Persian origins.
“The Persians probably built it, as the name indicates,” said Mubarak, a Al Hijir resident.
Al Hadash fort, overlooking Wadi Mistal, is another anonymous vestige, positioned near the village of Hadash. It reportedly drew the attention of British soldiers stationed in Oman during the 1950s, who discovered ancient pottery with pre-Islamic inscriptions. Despite this intriguing find, the fort remains largely unexplored, with authorities yet to research its history comprehensively.
“Several years ago, during the Jabal war in the mid-’50s, some British soldiers found potteries with inscriptions dating before Islam,” said Mubarak.
Hosn Hbeish, situated at the foot of Jabal Shams, Oman's highest mountain, has a local legend associated with it.
“According to the legend, Hbeish resided there with his wife, and a tragic incident involving his brother and the construction of the fort's fence forms the centrepiece of the story,” Suleiman al Abri, a resident of the nearby village of Al Wijmah, recounted.
The sheer abundance of these defensive monuments, built over centuries by different civilisations, presents a formidable challenge for conservation efforts in Oman. Preserving and researching these historical structures is a costly and monumental task that requires both financial resources and a commitment to uncovering the secrets hidden within these enigmatic fortresses.