Site and urban network

[Picture source: © 1978 Michael Meinecke]

The new mosque, Jamiʿ al-Utrush, occupied a prestigious site near Aleppo’s citadel on the southwest side of al-Aʿajam Quarter. Ibn al-Shihna (d. 1485), the 15th century Aleppine historian, stated that the mosque was located next to the Suq al-Khayl (Horse Market), which replaced the Suq al-Ghanam (Sheep Market).[1] In Ottoman times (16th –20th centuries), this large open area became the location of the Suq al-Jumʿa (Friday Market).[2] A historic photo, most likely from the early 20th century (fig. 4), shows the mosque among buildings on the south and east sides, while its north facade opened to an alley and its west facade faced a vast open space.

Figure 4: Aleppo, al-Aʿajam Quarter, al-Utrush Mosque and open area for the Friday Market to the west [Picture source: Postcard (unknown photographer), approx. 1900s. Courtesy of May Sikias Collection]

While the Aleppine chronicler al-Ghazzi (d. 1933) did not provide any details on Aqbugha al-Utrush’s endowments (awqaf), he specified the properties endowed by the waqf of Damurdash al-Muhammadi: There are altogether 19 storehouses in the vicinity of the mosque’s north side near the citadel, and also one commercial building (qaysariyya). To the east of the mosque, there are 14 storehouses and 22 shops in the Suq al-Qashshashin (Straw Merchants Market), more shops in the Suq al-Baradiʿiyya (Saddlemakers Market). There are also dozens of shops in various other market locations, some of which are in the Central Suq, plus, agricultural lands outside town.[3]