www.bahraintourism.com The twin minarets of the Al-Khamis ancient mosque are easily identifiable along Salman Road.
It's considered to be one of the oldest relics of Islam in the region, and the foundation are believed to have been laid as early as 692AD. An inscription found on the site, however, suggests a foundation date sometimes during the 11th Century.
It has since been rebuilt twice in both 14th & 15th centuries, when the minarets were constructed. The mosque has been partially restored recently.
The first dwellings on the site are believed to have been constructed around 2800 BC, and have subsequently been overlaid by numerous fortified settlements.
The last was built in the early 16th century to defend Portugal's recent acquisition of the islands-for this reason, it is also known locally as the Portugueese Fort. Numerous excavations have uncovered a variety of relics from the forts past. |