Czech explorer documents southern Jordan before modern era
Robert Schick presents life and achievements of the Czech Arabist Alois Musil on Tuesday at American Centre of Research (Photo courtesy of ACOR)
AMMAN — Long before the rise of modern archaeology in the Middle East, a Czech priest-turned-explorer was meticulously documenting the landscapes, people, and ancient ruins of southern Jordan.
Born in 1868 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, AloisMusil grew up in a bilingual Czech-German farming family in Rychtarov. He studied Roman Catholic theology at the University of Olomouc and was ordained a priest in 1891.
His academic journey led him to the Dominican Biblical School in Jerusalem, where he studied from 1895 to 1898, developing fluency in both English and Arabic, skills that would shape his future as an orientalist and explorer.
Between 1896 and 1902, Musil conducted extensive ethnographic and archaeological research across southern Jordan, venturing into northern Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and northern Saudi Arabia in the years that followed.
His work has been credited with providing the earliest comprehensive documentation of sites such as Petra, Qasr Amra, Rabba, and Faynan.
'Musil was a counterpoint to Lawrence of Arabia,' said independent American researcher Robert Schick during a presentation at the American Center of Research titled 'Alois Musil's Explorations of Southern Jordan in 1896–1902.' 'He was conducting similar research for the Austro-Hungarian army.'
Musil served as a soldier during World War I and returned to Czechoslovakia after the war, never setting foot in the Middle East again. He became a professor at the University of Prague, dedicating the rest of his life to publishing his findings.
His three-volume work Arabia Petraea—published in German between 1907 and 1908—covers the regions of Moab, Edom, and includes a detailed ethnological travel report. Though less known than his English-language publications, these works remain vital to scholars today.
'His was the first detailed documentation of Petra's rock-cut tombs and monuments,' Schick noted. Musil also created detailed maps and took hundreds of photographs of the areas he explored—visual records that today serve as important ethnological and historical evidence.
Among his many achievements, Musil is recognized as the first Western scholar to reach QasrAmra and to write about Rabba, a major settlement on the Karak Plateau before the Crusader era. His observations at Faynan added further depth to the understanding of southern Jordan's ancient history.
In 1900, Musil witnessed the Ottoman Empire's efforts to build telegraph lines through Jordan's interior—a sign of the empire's push toward modernization. 'He saw how locals would flee to avoid Ottoman soldiers who confiscated their animals for transport,' Schick said.
Musil's camera also captured the cultural life of the region. His collection includes rare images of rabbaba players and traditional Arabic poets, along with thousands of lines of verse that he recorded.
Though trained in Biblical studies, Musil's enduring legacy lies in his work as an Arabist and ethnographer. His pioneering documentation continues to inform modern research into the cultural and historical heritage of the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Jordan News
14-06-2025
- Jordan News
Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad Publishes Emergency Contact Numbers for the Community - Jordan News
Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad Publishes Emergency Contact Numbers for the Community The Jordanian Embassy in Iraq announced on Saturday the allocation of emergency contact numbers for Jordanian citizens residing in Iraq, aiming to provide support and assistance in urgent situations. اضافة اعلان In a statement, the embassy emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of Jordanian nationals, stressing the importance of maintaining continuous communication and utilizing the provided numbers in case of need or emergency. Emergency Contact Numbers: Consul: +964 776 689 8840 Hotline – Ambassador's Office: +964 782 209 9993 Hotline – Consular Section: +964 781 277 7667 The embassy urged all Jordanian citizens to save these numbers and reach out when necessary, reaffirming its ongoing support and care for the Jordanian community in Iraq. — (Petra)
Roya News
04-06-2025
- Roya News
World Cup dream: Jordan faces Oman in crucial qualifier match
The Jordanian national football team, known as the Nashama, stands on the brink of history as they prepare to face Oman in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match tomorrow, June 5, at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat. A victory could secure Jordan's first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup, a milestone that would mark a monumental achievement for the country's sports history. The match, part of the AFC third round qualifiers in Group B, kicks off at 8:00 PM local time and carries immense weight for both teams. Jordan, currently second in their group with 13 points and a +6 goal difference, is three points behind leaders South Korea. A win against Oman, combined with a loss for Iraq against South Korea in a simultaneous fixture, could clinch Jordan's direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Under the guidance of coach Jamal Sellami, Jordan has shown remarkable form in the qualifiers. Their dominant 4-0 victory over Oman in October 2024 at Amman International Stadium showcased their attacking prowess, with Yazan Al-Naimat and Ali Alwan each scoring twice. Oman, sitting fourth in Group B with 10 points, is not out of the race. Managed by Rashid Jaber, the Omani side is coming off a 1-0 friendly win over Lebanon and a 4-1 thrashing of a Niger 'A' team, signaling their intent to challenge Jordan on home soil. Despite their recent loss to Jordan, Oman's solid home record, seven wins and one draw in their last ten home matches, makes them a formidable opponent. A victory for Oman, coupled with dropped points by Jordan and Iraq, could keep their hopes alive for a top-two finish and their first-ever World Cup appearance. The head-to-head record slightly favors Jordan, who has won five of their 12 encounters with Oman, including the last two matches, while Oman has secured three victories and four draws. Since their first World Cup qualifying campaign in 1986, the Nashama have come close to qualification, notably reaching the intercontinental playoff against Uruguay in 2013. Their recent performances, including a 2-0 upset over South Korea in the 2024 AFC Asian Cup semifinals and second place finish in the tournament after a loss to Qatar, have raised expectations. With FIFA expanding the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams, granting Asia eight direct qualification spots, Jordan's chances have never been better.
Jordan News
04-06-2025
- Jordan News
1691 Attacks Carried Out by the Occupation Against Palestinians During Last May - Jordan News
The head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission in the Palestinian Authority, Minister Muayyad Shabban, stated that Israeli occupation forces and extremist settlers carried out a total of 1,691 attacks against Palestinian citizens, their lands, properties, and holy sites during the past month of May. This continues the ongoing state terrorism campaign by the occupation against the Palestinian people, their lands, and belongings. اضافة اعلان Shabban explained in the commission's monthly report today, Tuesday, on occupation violations and colonial expansion measures, that the occupation army was responsible for 1,276 attacks, while settlers carried out 415 attacks. The majority of these attacks were concentrated in the governorates of Ramallah with 283 attacks, Hebron with 271, and Nablus with 265. Shabban pointed out that the attacks varied between armed assaults on Palestinian villages, imposing facts on the ground, field executions, land destruction and leveling, uprooting trees, seizing properties, violating holy sites, and closures and checkpoints disrupting the geographic continuity of Palestine. — (Petra)
