Nour al-Din Maristan

1154 AD / Syria

Inner courtyard with central pool in the Nour al-Din Maristan. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

This fabulous maristan was built in 1154 AD (549 AH) by order of Nour al-Din Zengi – a Turkoman member of the Zengid dynasty that ruled the Syrian province of the Seljuk Empire (1037-1194 AD). Nour al-Din also built the maristan in Aleppo 1148-1155 (453-549 AH) which exemplifies the patronage of rulers of the time to provide charitable edifices for caring for the sick. The Nour al-Din maristan of Damascus ran into disrepair but remained largely intact structurally throughout the centuries. With the French colonial Mandate (1923-1945) the building was converted into the Musée de la médecine et des sciences arabes. Remnants of the French era remain on the plaques outside the main entrance and in the display cases inside the maristan.

Architectural Floorplans

These blueprints are from different Arabic sources and they are consistent in showing the central courtyard with the fountain in the middle, plus the iwan and the corner rooms for patients.

Floorplan.

Floorplan book.

2 ajami wood doors

Bimaristan Booklet

Image Gallery

View of Bimaristan Nouri on Mohammed Musallam Abdeen Street. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Street entrance of Bimaristan Nouri. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Detail of wooden door to inner entrance. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Peacocks in plaster design above inner entrance. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Central pool with diwan. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Central pool with naranj citrus trees. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Side view of red cupola from courtyard. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Detail of entrance door of Bimaristan Nouri. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Detail of iwan wall design. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Detail of street entrance door of Maristan Nouri. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

Scales hanging next to inner entrance. Photo: Stuart Reigeluth.

References

All References