Gold Market

The importance, legacy, and restoration of a medieval marketplace in Gaza City. "What makes Souk al-Qissariya distinctive is its traditional character, the small shops of 4 or 6 metres. Such a tiny size is well-suited for the trade in gold, given that the items sold are small items." Located in the Muslim Quarter of Old Gaza City, Souk al-Qissariya was built in the 14th century during the Mamluk Empire. It has 44 shops: 21 on the north side and 23 on the south side. "Al-Qissariya” is an Arabic transliteration of the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. "Caesar" turned into qasr , which came to mean castle or fort in Arabic. Qissariya means “many castles,” referring to its long, arcaded structure containing a row of tiny shops in parallel walls. Gaza was a major port city along the Silk Road, for which Al-Qissariya operated as a spice market. Now, it's small shops sell gold jewelry. Avedis Djeghalian, who lived in Gaza in the 1950s, reminisces about how there used to be candy shops, bakeries and shoe shops here. Many of the shop owners are Christians, as both Avedis and Muneer point out. Directly adjacent to the Omari Mosque, the Souk al-Qissariya was historically visited most often on religious holidays. One can access the Omari Mosque through a small door tucked between the shops. A Mamluk inscription is carved above the doorway. On the walls of the Bazaar, one can see inlaid stone text. These inscriptions were carved in the Bahri Mamluk period (1250-1382) when Souk al-Qissariya was built. Part of the inscription says: "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. One who believes in God and the Last Day and performs prayer and zakat (alms/charity) does not fear anything but God." The inscription honors the patron – the person who commissioned the building: "The victorious sultan of the world and religion, Muhammad, son of the martyr sultan Al-Mansur Qalawun." Ibn Qalawun ruled Egypt intermittently between 1294 - 1341. Al-Qissariya was built in the 1300s. Muneer Elbaz and his team plan to restore the Mamluk-era vaulted ceiling. The peaked archway is derived from European Gothic-style architecture. This inscription was created in the early 2000's by the The Ministry of Endowments (or Awqaf) of Egypt. The text reads, "Oh God, blessings and peace be upon Muhammad and his family." This pointed archway, carved with decorative fluted reliefs, marks the entrance of the bazaar. Listen to Salem Al Qudwa describe the interactions he and his students have with these architectural elements. "I find that my students have a tendency to incorporate historical elements inspired by our past. I also see this through the field trips we organise. Students express appreciation for the historic buildings on such trips, regardless of whether they have already been there." Dr. Suhair Ammar says that after al-Qissariya is restored, the adjacent Souk al-Zawiya should be next. Unfortunately, al-Zawiya was partially destroyed by an explosion in July 2021, making its preservation most urgent. Rawan Yaghi talks about her fond memories Souk al-Zawiya. This souk sells more various commodities than Souk al-Qissariya, including vegetables, meat, fruit, and clothes. "Al-Zawiya Bazaar is the eastern section of the old merchant’s street... For it’s heritage, Al-Qaisariyya Bazaar is more valuable because it’s intact, however, in commercial terms, Al-Zawiya is important to local and city residents, given that it is the oldest market in Gaza." Compiled by Leena Ghannam. The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content. The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.