Libya, what's in Libya? I am sure Libya has a lot of offer, but it's far from my home and far from my culture, making the country itself a Strange Spot alone. During the 12th century, when people of the Northern provinces completed a pilgrimage (Haj) to the coastal cities they need a place to rest. The Qaser-al-H'aj (the Pilgrim's Castle) was created for this purpose. The castle is located about 80 miles from Tripoli. Some refer to this site as an ancient bank vault, as pilgrims would leave their heavy luggage prior to leaving to the holy city of Haj. There very heavy luggage was securely deposited, similar to airplane lockers. Travelers apparently didn't need the heavy luggage for the remainder of their journey. The building's main door opens to a courtyard where one can see 3 stories of small windows. There are a total 114 windows leading each to a locker, representing the 114 chapters in the Holy Koran. When the pilgrimage was complete, the building was used for communal granary and an olive oil center for farmers who didn't have enough storage. The pilgrimage to Haj continues but the vault closed it's doors in 1960. However, still remains active as a tourist site and a strange spot!
No comments:
Post a Comment