Decorations, architecture and art      
This page is revised on the 10 June 1999

Decorations do not play the same important role in the omani society as in a western country. Paintings are hardly seen. It is along the main roads where it is possible to see major expression through decorations; kind of paintings, like this picture of camels in the desert.

Or as a mini fort with a horse:

Another example of the growing expression through decorations is this waterfall which is seen at a major road near Muscat:

Maybe I find the decorations in the mosques is a bit more substantial:
  

or in the way the sight of a mosque can be enjoyed:

or through the architecture in old houses:

What the watch in the lower part of this window frame should be able to tell is unfortunately lost in the past.

At some remote places one can see strange isolated building. Also in these cases the original purpose is lost in the past. But very nice to look at anyway.

The best place to look at architecture is maybe in the forts, of which there are plenty in Oman. The most impressive is maybe the fort in Jabrin:

In Jabrin Fort the Imam lived and ruled over his part of the country. He and the Sultan (who lived in Muscat) were up till approximately 1960 not of the same opinion who was the ruler over the entire country.

In the middle of the fort is this wonderful courtyard with galleries, kitchen, a well and the falaj (for washing and toilet).

Very nice window decorations.

'The sun and moon room' with wonderful paintings on the ceiling. There is a pleasant climate in the room, even during the hot summer.

A part of the paintings on the ceiling. Parts of it are quotations from the Koran.

A view through the window into the fort courtyard.

A well grown door is the main entrance!

A cannon and some pretty pots.

There is also the impressive fort in Nizwa, surrounded by the souq and the huge mosque.

Great contrasts and colours (even if there are not so many different).

In the fort courtyard we find a datepalm tree and a well.

as well as the shaded rest place where people can sit for hours and relax, talk, drink coffee and eat dates.

Of course there is also the giant and scenic fort in Bahla. It is on UNESCO's of world class sights which should be kept.
The fort was demolished through bombing by British warplanes in the late 1950s as they helped the Sultan to fight the Imam. Restoration is ongoing.

Another thing they could put on UNESCO's list of world class sights are these Persian steps. Build in the fourth century up the mountainside of Jabal Akhdar from 200 m above sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. Nice, solid steps. Still capable of functioning. That is construction craft!

Another nice detail from the architecture is the decoration of roundabouts:

Which leads to the ultimate expression of supreme art and architecture: Road constructions!