After the Persian Sassanid occupation, then the Byzantine, the territories of Syria passed under Arab-Muslim domination, and the capital of the new Omayyad dynasty, was established in Damascus in the year 661. The conquest only had an impact on the political structure of the country, the countryside and the Aramaean populations remained Christian. Members of the reigning aristocracy held large estates, such as al-Fudayn in Mafraq, north-east of Amman. Several bronze figurines were found there along with a brazier decorated with erotic scenes. Quite a number of castles built by Omayyad princes are located on Jordanian soil, proving the importance they gave to the province of Balqa, directly governed by Damascus. These castles, built in the middle of well irrigated and vast latifundia (estates), played both economic and strategic roles.

   One of these castles, Qusayr Amra, with splendidly decorated thermal baths, was discovered at the end of the last century by an Austrian traveller, AloÔs Musil. The frescos run through practically the entire building, and represent bathing scenes, hunting scenes, pastoral scenes, athletes training, musicians, dancers, and artisans at work.