Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
'Azm Palace, Damascus, men's costume, embroidery
College
Fine Arts and Communications
Department
Art
Abstract
From the outside the ‘Azm Palace is almost indiscernible amongst a maze of souqs, restaurants, offices and homes in the old city in Damascus. Much more than a building, it is an icon of the political and cultural heritage of the Syrian people. Constructed in 1749 by As’ad Pasha Al ‘Azm, the Syrian governor appointed by the Ottoman court, the palace took three years to build, and occupied the majority of the craftsmen from the guilds in Damascus and the united provinces of Sidon, Tripoli and Hama. The palace itself is a juxtaposition of the traditional oriental customs and the pervasive influence of the west via the Ottoman authorities. Though the building has changed hands throughout the centuries, it became a holding of the Syrian government in 1953 and now houses the National Museum of Arts and Crafts which showcases, amongst treasures in brass, wood and glass, a vast collection of Middle Eastern textiles.1
Recommended Citation
Hurd, Danielle and Finlayson, Dr. Cynthia
(2013)
"The Collections of the ‘Azm Palace in Damascus: Men’s Costume and Embroidery,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 2096.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/2096