Beit Junblatt Explained

Beit Junblatt
Native Name:بيت جنبلاط
Alternate Names:Qasr Junblatt
Map Type:Syria Ancient City of Aleppo
Building Type:Palace, Museum
Cost:One thousand Ottoman gold lira
Location:Aleppo, Syria
Address:Al-Bandarah area, al-Farafira district
Ancient Aleppo
Client:Janpolad bek ibn Qasim
Completion Date:16th century
Floor Count:2

Beit Junblatt (Arabic: بيت جنبلاط) is a historic mansion that resides in Aleppo, Syria, built in the 16th century by a Kurdish emir of the Janbulad family.

Background

Beit Junblatt (Arabic: بيت جنبلاط); originally Janpolad Palace (Arabic: قصر جان بولاد), is a historic mansion in Aleppo, Syria, built during the 2nd half of the 16th century by a Kurdish emir of the Janbulad family, Janbulad ibn Qasim.[1] In 1604–1605, it briefly served as a residence for the Ottoman wāli of Aleppo Hussein Pasha Janpolad.[2]

The mansion is located at al-Bandarah area of al-Farafira district, within the walls of the Ancient City of Aleppo.[3] According to the Aleppine historian sheikh Kamel al-Ghazzi, emir Janpolad spent 1,000 Ottoman gold lira to build the palace. Since 1766, the palace became the property of al-Kawakibi family. In 1814, it then served as the residence of the mufti of Aleppo sheikh Hasan Afandi al-Kawakibi.

Beit Junblatt is believed to have the largest iwan in Aleppo, decorated with fine qashani ceramic-tiled mosaic wall, depicting several Persian-type inscriptions.[4] Like the vast majority of Arabic traditional houses, the square-shaped courtyard of the palace has a large water fountain in the centre mainly used for wudu. It has been described as one of the most beautiful palaces built in the city.[5]

However, many associated external buildings around the palace—including a military barrack and stables—were said to have been ruined during the 1960s. It was subsequently restored by the Kuwait-Syria-Arab Fund to serve as a cultural center and library.[6]

War damage

Beit Junblatt (Dar Janpolad) suffered material damage from fighting and looting during the Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016).[7] [8] Numerous tiles were removed from the building's iwan allegedly to be shown as samples to international antiquities dealers.[9] [10] Similar tiles were sold at a Western auction house in 2015.[11]

External links

36.2036°N 37.1586°W

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20131229103910/http://www.kurdish-association.com/new_page_2.htm Kurds in Lebanon
  2. Book: Burns, Ross. Aleppo: A History. 2017. Routledge. 9781134844081. New York. 229–231. en.
  3. Book: Mansel, Philip. Aleppo: The Rise and Fall of Syria's Great Merchant City. 2016. I.B.Tauris. 9781784534615. 128. en.
  4. Web site: موقع حلب - "قصر جنبلاط".. وأكبر إيوان في "حلب" Qasr Junblatt has the largest iwan in Aleppo. www.esyria.sy. 2017-05-17.
  5. Book: Darke, Diana. Syria. 2006. Bradt Travel Guides. 9781841621623. en.
  6. Book: Burns, Ross. Monuments of Syria: A Guide. 2009-06-30. I.B.Tauris. 9780857714893. 54. en.
  7. Web site: In Photos: Damages of Dar Janpolad_Beit Junblatt in old Aleppo المديرية العامة للآثار والمتاحف. www.dgam.gov.sy. 2017-05-17.
  8. Web site: Monuments and sites reported damaged in the Syrian conflict since 2011. Ross Burns. 17 May 2017.
  9. News: Shabi. Rachel. 2015-07-03. Looted in Syria – and sold in London: the British antiques shops dealing in artefacts smuggled by Isis. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-07-10. 0261-3077.
  10. Web site: 2012-08-05. Robert Fisk: Syria's ancient treasures pulverised. 2020-07-10. The Independent. en.
  11. Web site: Four 'dome of the rock' tiles Olympia Auctions. 2020-07-10. www.olympiaauctions.com.