Could be the oldest market in the world.
Ancient market at heart of modern Baghdad
BAGHDAD — Souk al-Shorja is Baghdad's oldest market. It was established in the late Abbasid period about A.D. 750 and was first called Souk al-Rayahin then Souk al-Attarin. It is part of the historic area that includes the Abbasid palace on the Tigris River and the Khulafa mosque on al-Jumhuriya Street. "Shorja" means "salty water" in Arabic, and there was once a well where the market is now.
This market has remained throughout this period and later, and preserved the style of its shops, stores and squares that still swarm with shoppers and merchants.
Modern shopping malls in the Iraqi capital cannot compete with Shorja. It consists of a series of overlapping souks that preserved their traditional and popular character. It offers food and conventional household goods and more specialized items for religious occasions and holidays. Traditional spice dealers sell all kinds of spices, sugar, tea, grains and sweets.
Read more:
Ancient market at heart of modern Baghdad - Al-Monitor the Pulse of the Middle East
Ancient market at heart of modern Baghdad
BAGHDAD — Souk al-Shorja is Baghdad's oldest market. It was established in the late Abbasid period about A.D. 750 and was first called Souk al-Rayahin then Souk al-Attarin. It is part of the historic area that includes the Abbasid palace on the Tigris River and the Khulafa mosque on al-Jumhuriya Street. "Shorja" means "salty water" in Arabic, and there was once a well where the market is now.
This market has remained throughout this period and later, and preserved the style of its shops, stores and squares that still swarm with shoppers and merchants.
Modern shopping malls in the Iraqi capital cannot compete with Shorja. It consists of a series of overlapping souks that preserved their traditional and popular character. It offers food and conventional household goods and more specialized items for religious occasions and holidays. Traditional spice dealers sell all kinds of spices, sugar, tea, grains and sweets.
Read more:
Ancient market at heart of modern Baghdad - Al-Monitor the Pulse of the Middle East
