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At the far
end of this courtyard rises the Dar el Harim, composed of a large and
richly decorated façade, the Upper Harem (13), the reception room or
salamlik, the lower Harem, the kitchens and the baths.
The
monumental archway opens on the left to the reception wing, which is
made up of a waiting room and a hall. These are by far the most ornate
rooms in the palace. The waiting room has a single column supporting
the vault and is known as the "room of the column" (14). The
reception hall itself, or Salamlik (15), is built on two levels, the
first notable for a fine mosaic floor and walls covered with carved
marble, sculptures and inscriptions. One of these inscriptions
reads:" The homage of a governor towards God is to observe
justice, for an hour of justice is worth more than a thousand months
of prayer".
Emir Bechir
sat on the raised platform at the bay end of the room, smoking his
long pipe or nargileh, as he dispensed justice with dignity and
absolute power. Here the Emir held court and carried out the business
of his emirate.
On the right
of the entry door is the Upper Harem, with the so-called "Lamartine’s
room" (16) and another important room called Mahkamat, or
tribunal (17).
The corridor
leads to the lower Harem with the private apartments of the emir and
his family set around a courtyard enclosed on four sides. Two liwans
on the sides of this court allowed the family members to enjoy the
fresh air (18).
On the angle
of the Upper and the Lower Harems are the kitchens (19) where servants
prepared the daily meals for more than 500 people. The food was taken
from there to the reception and living areas where it was placed on
trays set in front of the divans of the notables and their visitors.
From the
balconies of the Dar el Harim, which look out across a vast terraced
valley, can be seen the most spectacular view of the place’s
surroundings.
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