12th century
Governorate of Nabatiyya, Lebanon
Every period has left its mark on this site, which has changed ownership many times over the centuries. The building can be read as an architectural-historical look into the past.
5th millennium BC; 18th century settlement; abandoned probably at the beginning of the 20th century
Al-Zubarah, Qatar
Visiting al-Zubarah is like travelling back in time. As if in an archaeological laboratory, one is able to walk through its historical past and examine what it was like to live there.
19th century
Institut Supérieur d’Histoire Contemporaine de la Tunisie
La Manouba, Tunis, Tunisia
1845
Benaki Museum
Athens, Greece
Studies of different sites are valuable as documents of the urban assets of a city, immortalising it in visual documents at a specific point in time. This lithograph was made at a time when Athens was collating its urban assets. As the first king of Greece following independence from the Ottoman Empire, King Otto wanted to remodel the city and breathe new “new life” into it by recalling the city’s classical past.
General view of the excavations in the crypt of the Saint-Geneviève monastery, in 1807
1850
National Library of France
Paris, France
View Looking across the Hall of Columns, Karnak
Published 1849
Sharjah Art Museum / Sharjah Museums Authority
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)
The lithograph, which illustrates a site of great archaeological significance, points to a scientific as well as an aesthetic interest in the ancient past. Besides its importance to archaeological studies, artworks such as this were used as reference by artists, designers and architects.
Dolmabahçe Palace Portal Under Construction
1853
Ömer M. Koç Collection
Istanbul, Turkey
This photo is a rare representation of work-in-progress, showing the construction process of the Dolmabahçe Palace.
Pedestal of the Obelisk in the Ancient Byzatine Hippodrome
1854
Ömer M. Koç Collection
Istanbul, Turkey
The monuments in the Hippodrome surrounded by protective fences
1857
Ömer M. Koç Collection
Istanbul, Turkey
The Hippodrome was one of the main centres of city life in this capital city of the ancient world, Byzantium (then Constantinople). Here, where magnificent works of ancient Egypt, Greek, and Rome are found together, the intertwining layers of time and cultures up until the Ottoman era are revealed.
The European neighbourhood of Tunis and the Northern Suburbs
1875
Italian Geographical Society (SGI)
Rome, Italy
Ruins of Troy: general excavation plan by Mr Schliemann
1876
National Library of France
Paris, France
Studying this plan of ancient Troy, based on the excavations by Heinrich Schliemann, it is possible to gain a picture of the urban structure of the ancient city.
1910s
Beirut, Lebanon
The creation of open, green public spaces such as parks and gardens is central to urban planning. The Sanayeh Garden, commissioned by Khalil Pasha and a manifestation of Ottoman power and planning, is one of the oldest public parks in Beirut.
Kız Kulesi, Galata and Fındıklı Residential Areas
Late 19th century
Pera Museum
Istanbul, Turkey
This photo depicts the growth of settlements and the characteristics of the residential areas along the bank of the river. It provides details of the location and the connection between the watercourse and the mainland (the boat and the lighthouse) and also suggests the different building types that are on the banks of the river and the surrounding landscape.
Roman-Present; identified in 1896 by J. Germer-Durand
Madaba District, Jordan
One of Jordan’s most significant heritage sites, it demonstrates the coexistence of different cultures and societies in one urban space.