DAMASCUS,(SANA)-Public fountains are one of the magnificent landmarks in Damascus which distinguish it from the other cities of the world as they constitute cultural ties due to the nature of the city and its people.
When one wanders in the streets of Damascus Old City or passes through one of its alleys, he/she can see a public fountain with an astounding architectural style mixing the simplicity and the mastery.
The public fountains prove the generosity and nobility of the Damascene people as they provide water for the pedestrians without anything in return.
Till 1908, Damascus considered the public fountains as one of most important sources of water in the city as they provide pure water for the citizens coming directly from al-Fijeh Spring, and they cover the needs of all the inhabitants of the city as they spread at the public streets and near the residential neighborhoods.
Nowadays, Damascus embraces about 200 public fountains which have played a significant role in the prosperity of the city throughout history.
History Teacher, Mohammad Ibrahim Hamadeh, says that there were more than 800 public fountains in Damascus in the 19th century A.D, adding that the reason behind this huge number is the abundance of water.
Hamadeh added that the fountains have various technical constructional styles due to the different ages during which they were constructed, like the fountain of 'Kana'an Pool' at Bab al-Jabeih neighborhood and 'al-Mossili' Fountain at al-Midan neighborhood which date back to the Ayyubid Era.
He pointed out that the public fountains of al-Barid, Fathi Bathhouse and al-Khazneh at al-Midan neighborhood date back to the Mamluk Era, adding that they prospered during the Ottoman Reign, as the Ottoman state encouraged the building of public fountains, like al-Hijaz and al-Mawlawiya fountains at al-Nasr Street and al-Ward Mosque Fountain at Saroja Souk (market).
H. Zain / R. al-Jazaeri
