An-Nāranj Pool

(Redirected from Pool of Raranj)

The an-Nāranj Pool (Arabic: بركة النارنج Birkat an-Nāranj, lit.'pond of the bitter orange') is a small pool in the al-Aqsa Mosque Compound. It is at the compound's western esplanade, between the Fountain of Qasim Pasha (Sabil an-Nāranj) and the Fountain of Qayt Bay (to its south).

Closeup of the pool, enclosed by green banisters (handrails)
The pool inside railings

It was also known as al-Rāranj (الرارنج) and al-Ghāghanj (الغاغنج); both are phonetic variations of an-Nāranj.[1]

It was built in the Ottoman period.[1][2] It was restored during the reign of Sultan Qaitbay and again in 1527 by Qasim Pasha, a governor of Jerusalem. In 1922, the Supreme Muslim Council reconstructed the pool, paved it with marble and encircled it with banisters. The pool is seven metres wide.[3]

The Fountain of Qasim Pasha and the pool; the Chain Gate Minaret behind

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "بركة النارنج". معلومة مقدسية (in Arabic).
  2. ^ "The Bitter Orange Pond". QudsInfo.
  3. ^ [dead link] Al Aqsa Guide. Al-Aqsa Friends 2007. Archived 2008-12-20 at the Wayback Machine


31°46′38.72″N 35°14′04.90″E / 31.7774222°N 35.2346944°E / 31.7774222; 35.2346944