Waterwheels in Hama during the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras

Abstract

This research examines the significance of the city of Hama in terms of its strategic location and its position on the banks of the Orontes River, a lifeline. It also explores the water-lifting and propulsion tools known as "waterwheels," invented during the Roman era due to the riverbed being lower than the city level.  These waterwheels evolved during the Islamic ear, particularly the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods when new waterwheels were constructed according to the distribution of newly established neighbourhoods and reclaimed agricultural lands. The study then delves into the components and parts of the waterwheels through a detailed description of their elements, the mechanism of their operation, the structure and distribution of the waterwheels along the Orontes River, the system for distributing water quotas for the waterwheels, and the establishment of specialised departments for construction, repair, and maintenance. Finally, the technical and service status of the waterwheels at present were evaluated and then the results and analyses from the current study were drawn.