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Aleppo
The Kamili Argonic Bymaristan in old Aleppo is considered an architectural piece of art. Its is a mixture of architectural expertise and an accurate design as a hospital. It is a witness of the importance of health and service sectors for the Kings and Emirs of Aleppo.
It shows the high standard of medical, science and health reached by the Arabs more than 600 years ago.
Bymaristan is a Persian word composed of two words Bymar meaning ill or sick and Stan meaning a house, so the word means the house of the sick.
This ancient hospital was constructed in the Mamluk era in AD 1354 (755 Hijra) by the deputy of Aleppo Emir Argon the Kamili.
It is located at the north east of the ancient Bab Kinsreen (Kinsreen Gate) of the castle of Aleppo. Its entrance is a wonderful piece of art of the Aleppo craftsmanship and decoration.
The entrance leads to a large lobby with a room specialized for medicine dispensing (a pharmacy) and two other rooms, one was a waiting room and the other served as a clinic. Patients were checked here before they were admitted into the hospital.
The inner premises consist of three sections. The first has four rooms, the second eleven rooms and the third seven rooms. These three sections are so well insulated that they are sound proof and voices of patients can never be heard outside, and the outside noise can never penetrate.
So inside there is always piece and quiet except for the sound of the water fountains in the yard of the three sections. The most prominent doctors in Aleppo served there.
Besides normal patients , there were also mental patients who were treated psychologically through the beautiful views and tranquility available to them accompanied by the sound of soft music and water fountains which doctors believed played a great role in curing their patients. |
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