View of the complex from just outside the main gate. Originally, the facade was magnificently decorated with elaborate intertwining and trailing vines. Unfortunately, this facade, along with many other sculptural treasures from Mshatta, was stolen by an Ottoman governor and given as a present to the German Kaiser. This plunder, along with many other illicitly obtained treasures, is now in a museum in Berlin. Whilst many Jordanians would like them back, their government's reluctance to upset Germany means that we don't hear as much fuss about these treasures as we do about the Parthenon marbles!
As usual, we seem to have one rule for Europeans and another for Arabs.