Maktab Anbar () is a house in the center of

Old Damascus The old city of Damascus () is the historic city centre of Damascus, Syria. The old city, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, contains numerous archaeological sites, including some historical churches and mosq ...

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

. The house was built as a private residence by a local

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

notable Mr. Anbar in the mid 19th century and was later confiscated by the Ottoman government after Mr. Anbar's bankruptcy. The house is built around three courtyards, first the formal reception courtyard, behind this the attractive female courtyard, and finally the spartan servants' courtyard. Due to the cost of building, the owner turned the building into the Damascus Civil Preparatory School, which was a prestigious, expensive, tuition-based school for the children of the land-owning families of Damascus. According to Philip Khoury, many Syrian nationalist leaders who worked and were co-opted by the French from 1928 and independence in 1946, were graduates of Maktab Anbar. The house was restored by the

Ministry of Culture Ministry of Culture may refer to: * Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania) * Ministry of Culture (Algeria) * Ministry of Culture (Argentina) * Minister for the Arts (Australia) * Ministry of Culture (Azerbaijan)Ministry o ...

in 1976. It now holds a library exhibition hall, museum and craft workshops.Archnet, Maktab Anbar Restoration
/ref>

Gallery

File:مكتب عنبر - Maktab Anbar.jpg, Maktab Anbar File:Damascus, Maktab Anbar, reception courtyard.JPG, The reception courtyard File:Maktab Anbar Damascus.jpg, The female courtyard File:Damascus, Maktab Anbar, servants' courtyard.JPG, The servants' courtyard File:دمشق القديمة-مكتب عنبر (1).jpg, The female courtyard

References

{{Damascus Maktab Anbar Houses completed in the 19th century Old Damascene houses Jewish Syrian history Museums in Syria Buildings and structures inside the walled city of Damascus Jews and Judaism in Damascus