Azm Palace (Hama)
Encyclopedia
The Azm Palace is an 18th-century Ottoman palace in Hama
, Syria
located at the center of the city on the banks of the Orontes River
, about 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) south of the Hama Citadel. Ross Burns, author of Monuments of Syria, reportedly considers the Azm Palace to be "one of the loveliest Ottoman residential buildings in Syria."
governor, As'ad Pasha al-Azm
as his residence. A larger palace with the same basic plan, also known as the Azm Palace
, was built in Damascus
by As'ad Pasha when he became governor of that city in 1743. It served the continuing line of Azm governors in Hama until the end of family rule in the 19th century.
The palace has been used as a museum since 1956, displaying archaeological finds from various sites in and around Hama, including the citadel. A noteworthy exhibit is that of a Roman mosaic depicting a musician playing a lyre. Extensively damaged during the 1982 Hama uprising
, the palace has since been largely restored.
with three sides is located at one end, to provide seating for residents. The purpose of the courtyard on the second floor is to make use of breezes and the cool air. Stairs lead to the upper courtyard, where there is a grand reception room; protecting the facade is an arched portico, while every surface inside the building is decorated with painted woodwork, banded stonework, and patterned marble. A large dome is built above the central area.
The other rooms inside are also decorated with both fountains and painted panels of birds and trees. In addition, the rooms that open into the upper courtyard contain "popular tradition" displays, with costumed mannequins depicting everyday scenes of Syrian life. Close to the entrance area is the Azm Palace's private hamaam
("bath"). However, the hamaam seems to have been available for use by the public.
The smaller courtyard at the lower floor served as the haram
lek, or family and women's quarters. Burns says that the haramlek is particularly noteworthy. The palace has a single-floor guest wing on the western side, vaulted service quarters on the eastern side, and the second floor was the family residence. There is a direct entrance to the madafa and the southern liwan, which also gives passage to the service wing and the Azm family tomb.
Hama
Hama is a city on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria north of Damascus. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Hama is the fourth-largest city in Syria—behind Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs—with a population of 696,863...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
located at the center of the city on the banks of the Orontes River
Orontes River
The Orontes or ‘Āṣī is a river of Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.It was anciently the chief river of the Levant, also called Draco, Typhon and Axius...
, about 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) south of the Hama Citadel. Ross Burns, author of Monuments of Syria, reportedly considers the Azm Palace to be "one of the loveliest Ottoman residential buildings in Syria."
History
The Azm Palace at Hama was built in 1742 by the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
governor, As'ad Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm
As'ad Pasha al-Azm was the governor of Damascus under Ottoman rule from 1742 to his deposition in 1757. He is responsible for the construction of several architectural works in the city and other places in Syria.-Background:...
as his residence. A larger palace with the same basic plan, also known as the Azm Palace
Azm Palace
Azem Palace is a palace in Damascus, Syria which was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.-Architecture:...
, was built in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
by As'ad Pasha when he became governor of that city in 1743. It served the continuing line of Azm governors in Hama until the end of family rule in the 19th century.
The palace has been used as a museum since 1956, displaying archaeological finds from various sites in and around Hama, including the citadel. A noteworthy exhibit is that of a Roman mosaic depicting a musician playing a lyre. Extensively damaged during the 1982 Hama uprising
Hama massacre
The Hama massacre occurred in February 1982, when the Syrian army, under the orders of the president of Syria Hafez al-Assad, conducted a scorched earth policy against the town of Hama in order to quell a revolt by the Sunni Muslim community against the regime of al-Assad...
, the palace has since been largely restored.
Architecture
Unlike al-Azm's palace in Damascus, the Azm Palace in Hama has courtyards on each of its two floors. The courtyard on the ground floor has a fountain in the middle and is decorated with trees planted to provide shade. A liwanLiwan
Liwan is a word used since ancient times into the present to refer to a long narrow-fronted hall or vaulted portal found in Levantine homes that is often open to the outside...
with three sides is located at one end, to provide seating for residents. The purpose of the courtyard on the second floor is to make use of breezes and the cool air. Stairs lead to the upper courtyard, where there is a grand reception room; protecting the facade is an arched portico, while every surface inside the building is decorated with painted woodwork, banded stonework, and patterned marble. A large dome is built above the central area.
The other rooms inside are also decorated with both fountains and painted panels of birds and trees. In addition, the rooms that open into the upper courtyard contain "popular tradition" displays, with costumed mannequins depicting everyday scenes of Syrian life. Close to the entrance area is the Azm Palace's private hamaam
Hamaam
Hamaam , or Wadi Hamam, is a Bedouin village near the Sea of Galilee and Mount Arbel in northern Israel. It is the easternmost part of the al-Batuf Regional Council. It contains one fairly modern mosque and the trail head for the steep ascent of Mount Arbel. According to the Israel Central Bureau...
("bath"). However, the hamaam seems to have been available for use by the public.
The smaller courtyard at the lower floor served as the haram
Haram
The Arabic term has a meaning of "sanctuary" or "holy site" in Islam.-Etymology:The Arabic language has two separate words, and , both derived from the same triliteral Semitic root . Both of these words can mean "forbidden" and/or "sacred" in a general way, but each has also developed some...
lek, or family and women's quarters. Burns says that the haramlek is particularly noteworthy. The palace has a single-floor guest wing on the western side, vaulted service quarters on the eastern side, and the second floor was the family residence. There is a direct entrance to the madafa and the southern liwan, which also gives passage to the service wing and the Azm family tomb.