HISTOIRE DE L'ART / ART HISTORY
Organisation du 10e CONGRES INTERNATIONAL D'ART TURC

In this paper I have attempted to show how the domestic architecture and urbanism of the Sarouja quarter reflected the increasing power, influence and mobility of the Damascene notables in the 18th and 19th centuries. A recent field work has brought to light the fact that 15 beautiful houses with qa'as (ceremonial rooms) richly decorated with wood paintings were built by this rising class of notables during the 19th century. In addition, based on fieldwork and archival research, I tried to shed light on the structure and composition of Damascene houses. Some indicators of the notable families' social and economic importance at the time include the sheer surface area of the houses, as well as the utilization of expensive building materials such as marble and the incorporation of elements such as a qa'a, and a bath.
I showed how powerful families or individuals of the late Ottoman period contributed to and shaped the process of Damascene neighborhood urbanization.