'Die von Othman Pascha erbaute Hauptwache'. Photographer: al-Sayyid ʻAbd al-Ghaffār

1781.b.6/6

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The record is made up of 1 print of a drawing. It was created in 1888. It was written in German. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

This street view depicts the main guardhouse or police station in Mecca, described as being newly built by Othman Pascha. The two-storey building features the Ottoman star and crescent symbols on the cornice and what appears to be a royal toughra at the centre of the pediment. Ottoman soldiers, wearing fezzes stand guard in front.

Several figures appear in small groups on the street in the foreground along with three donkeys and one horse. Although it is not obvious, the title mentions that ‘al Ṣafā’, one of the two hills or mounds at Mecca between which pilgrims run during the hadj or umra in commemoration of Hagar’s search for water to feed her son. The proximity of al Ṣafā to the guardhouse indicates that this scene was close to the Masjid al-Haram.

Inscriptions:

Printed above image, in ink:

VI

Printed beneath image, in ink:

‘Die von Othman Pascha erbaute Hauptwache (links im Hintergrund èç Çafa).’

Extent and format
1 print of a drawing
Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

166 x 236 mm

Format:

1 print of a drawing

Condition:

The print is in good condition.

Foliation:

‘VI’

Written in
German in Latin script
Type
Photograph

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
1781.b.6/6

History of this record

Date(s)
1888 (CE, Gregorian)

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'Die von Othman Pascha erbaute Hauptwache'. Photographer: al-Sayyid ʻAbd al-Ghaffār, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, 1781.b.6/6, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023619120.0x000029> [accessed 28 November 2024]

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