Bab al-Faraj (Damascus)

The gate, located in the northern walls near the northeast corner of the citadel, was built by Nur ad-Din Zangi in 1154–55. Al-Malik al-Salih fortified the gate further in 1239–40 and added another gateway to the north of the original gate.^[1] Bab al-Faraj was rebuilt again in 1396–97 under the Mamluks. The gate was further renovated and restored in the 1980s.^[3] The two separate gateways are connected by a narrow steel-roofed alley that serves nowadays as a souq for small hardware and keys.^[1] The northern gateway opens up to the modern street of al-Malik Faisal, and still serves as the main northwestern entrance to the old city.^[3]

The eastern jamb on the original gate of Nur ad-Din Zangi is still visible, while the western one has been absorbed by the surrounding shops. The jamb is decorated with a combination of Aleppan-styled moldings and engravings of three-leaves without stems. The later additions of al-Malik al-Salih included a monolithic column re-used as a lintel, and the four corbels above the relieving arch.^[1]

Notes

Bibliography

33°30′48″N 36°18′13″E / 33.513327°N 36.303582°E / 33.513327; 36.303582