Souks - more than just a labyrinth
|
|
By Hada Sarhan Jordan Times 1 January 2004
Traditional Arab marketplaces, or souks, that have been thriving in the region for centuries are the theme of the Arab Bank 2004 calendar.
Six coloured photos representing traditional souks in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunis and Yemen were taken by various Arab and European photographers, among them Jordanian Elias To'meh and Lebanese Garo Nalbandian.
أ¢â‚¬إ“Traditional souks are a heritage that needs to be preserved,أ¢â‚¬آ Arab Bank Chairman Abdul Majeed Shoman believes.
The ancient bazaars, said Shoman, are not just a labyrinth of picturesque narrow streets lined with shops, but rather highly complex city centres.
Souks are normally characterised by high domed, attractive ceilings which shed light on the countless corridors below, each of which is dedicated to a particular trade or craft.
Within the bazaar are found not only shops but mosques, traditional restaurants, hammams (bathhouses), Koranic schools, craftsmen, tradesmen and serene courtyards. The shops themselves sell every kind of merchandise - from humble kitchen utensils to the finest silk carpets.
In the absence of the money as a medium of exchange in the past, the chairman explained, bartering of goods and services was customary.
The central area was also the gathering place for other public activities such as social services and administration.
Nowadays, when you enter an old souk, you realise that history is alive - it is something you can see and touch, according to Shoman.
أ¢â‚¬إ“Bazaars and old souks serve as a true image of the social, economic, cultural day-to-day life of the Islamic era, as well as a representation of magnificent and unique Muslim art and architecture,أ¢â‚¬آ he said.
Among these bazaars is Souk Bukhariah in downtown Amman. It was named after Kamal Eddin Bukhari, who travelled from his hometown of Azerbaijan, bringing commodities from China and Afghanistan to sell near the Husseini Mosque. Eventually, a cluster of small shops and bazaars sprang up in the area, selling local wares, souvenirs, handicrafts and a variety of gift items and foodstuff. In 1942, the market was officially named Souk Bukhariah.
In Yemen, the souks of Sanaa offer a wealth of ancient Yemeni handicrafts, weapons, jewellery, leather goods and textiles. Souk Al Milh consists of over 30 separate markets that throng the area around the small square of Soul Al Baqr in the old city. Other markets include the Souk Al Nahaas, once the copper market, now selling embroidered headdresses and belts.
|
Back to main page
|
Showing 1 news articles Back
To Top
Amman Office / Agents
Mr. Motaz Othman
P.O. Box 841113 Amman 111180
Amman – Jordan
Mobile : +962 785 557 778,
Tel: +962 6 4618615, Fax:+962 6 4618613, E-mail: itmamman@tcph.org |
عمان
السيد معتز عثمان
ص.ب 841113
عمان – المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية
لتغطية الدول التالية: سوريا، الأردن،
لبنان، السعودية والعرا ق |
|
|