Disclaimer
This entry contains information known to us from a variety of sources but may not include all the information currently available. Please be in touch if you notice any inadvertent mistakes in our presentation or have additional knowledge or sources to share. Thank you.
Archive
Beit Niyadu (Stambouli) at Damascus, Syria
The Beit Niyadu, also known as the Beit Stambouli, is located in the Old Damascus and counts as a home for one of the wealthiest and most prominent Jewish families in Ottoman Damascus. It is in the style of a courtyard house (See the Beit Farhi for a detailed example), complete with intricate and multicolored patterns which decorate the walls and the floors, as well as gilded inscriptions and courtyards filled with lush fruit trees and jasmine.
Description
The house was famously photographed after its completion in 1968 at the height of the family’s influence. The French photographer, Felix Bonfils (1831-1885), captured the family’s day-to-day life and their opulent surroundings. The Stambouli house included a private synagogue and a lavishly decorated qa’a (salon). Additionally, its courtyard featured multiple mirrors and a fountain. Famously, the fountain in the courtyard was decorated with the Star of David, signifying the Jewish heritage of the owners.
The Stambouli family was deeply rooted in Damascus, though, as their name suggests, they were closely connected with the city of Istanbul as well. Since many of the family’s forefathers were merchants, the Stambouli name came about as a way to distinguish where the family traded and with whom. As with many other prominent Damascene Jews at the time, one of its family members, Aaron Stambouli, had been implicated in the Damascus Affair of 1840. However, like the rest of the community, the family regained their prosperity in the following years, resulting in the completion of their luxurious house. The house stayed with the family until 1943, when it was sold to an American institution. Later, the house was bought by a private owner who has renovated it and preserved its lavish demeanor.
Sources
"La Maison Stambouli." https://farhi.org/Documents/Maison%20Stambouli.htm.