Bayt al-Aqqad
Encyclopedia
Bayt al-Aqqad (Aqqad House) is an old Damascene house that hosts the Danish Institute in Damascus
, Syria
. The history of the building is more than 2000 years: Remains of the theatre of Herod the Great
were found in the outer walls and now forms a part of the wall in the secretary’s office. Other parts of the house include the northern and southern buildings which were built in the late 15th century in a late Mamluk
style and decoration. The winter hall dates back to the middle of the 18th century and other rooms were built around the same time. In their present form the two wings to the east and west date back to the end of the 19th century.
The building was restored during a period of four-years under an agreement between the Syrian and Danish
governments. According to the agreement the house would be let out to the Institute for free for a period of 50 years; in return for restoration expenses and continual upkeep.
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...
, 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....
. The history of the building is more than 2000 years: Remains of the theatre of Herod the Great
Herod the Great
Herod , also known as Herod the Great , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his...
were found in the outer walls and now forms a part of the wall in the secretary’s office. Other parts of the house include the northern and southern buildings which were built in the late 15th century in a late Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
style and decoration. The winter hall dates back to the middle of the 18th century and other rooms were built around the same time. In their present form the two wings to the east and west date back to the end of the 19th century.
The building was restored during a period of four-years under an agreement between the Syrian and Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
governments. According to the agreement the house would be let out to the Institute for free for a period of 50 years; in return for restoration expenses and continual upkeep.