Historic Middle Eastern Scenes

Vintage photographs capturing life in the Middle East with market scenes, ceremonies, and notable visits, reflecting cultural heritage and architecture.

'The Jews' Wailing Place - Outer Wall of the Temple, Jerusalem, Palestine', c1930s. The Western Wall is is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray. From "Tour of the World". Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., New York, Chicago, London

Arab native home. 1898, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Visit of H.R.H. Princess Mary and the Earl of Harwood March 1934. Princess Mary at the Machpelah Mosque, Hebron. Escorted by the sheiks of the Mosque, March 12. 1934, West Bank, Hebron

At the well. Crowds at village well. 1934, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Ceremony over the holy Neby Mousa, Nebi Musa flag. 1918. Nabi Musa is the name of a site in the West Bank believed to be the tomb of Moses

Square in front of the Heilig-Grafkerk in Jerusalem, Anonymous, c. 1900 - In or Before 1910 photograph Part of photo album of a trip through Southern Europe and the Middle East. Jerusalem photographic support gelatin silver print square, place, circus, etc. (+ city(-scape) with figures, staffage) Holy grave church

23d Psalm. 1925, Middle East

Return of Muslim delegation people including children greeting an Arab protest delegation on its return from London, December, 1929, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Queen of Abyssinia, Sept. 26, 1933 Empress Menen Asfaw (1883-1962), the wife of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, possibly at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. 1933, Israel

'The Jews' Wailing Place - Outer Wall of the Temple, Jerusalem, Palestine', c1930s. The Western Wall is is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray. From "Tour of the World". Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., New York, Chicago, London

Crowds on the roof of the Greek convent. Holy Fire celebration, Church of the Holy Sepulchre 1934, Jerusalem, Israel

Interior of a peasant home at Beit Sahur. 1934, West Bank, Bayt Sāḥūr

Hopi Indians purification ceremony, Oraibi pueblo, Arizona.

Neby Mousa 1937 at shrine and Jerusalem procession, Israel

Tomb of the Virgin, and Cave of Agony, Jerusalem, Israel, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXVI, No 13, March 26, 1899.

Opening of augmented water source in Jaamri Country at Ain Hamda, S.E. of Bethlehem, Byzantine baptismal font at Takoa, Mr. W.R. McGeagh, Mr. Sommerville & Mr. Faraj. 1940, West Bank, Tekoa, Israel

Palestine is a name given to the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The region is also known as the Land of Israel, the Holy Land and the Southern Levant. In 1832 Palestine was conquered by Muhammad Ali's Egypt, but in 1840 Britain intervened and returned control of the Levant to the Ottomans in return for further capitulations. The end of the 19th century saw the beginning of Zionist immigration and the Revival of the Hebrew language. The movement was publicly supported by Great Britain during World War I with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The British captured Jerusalem a month later, and were formally awarded a mandate in 1922. In 1947, following World War II and the Holocaust, the British Government announced their desire to terminate the Mandate, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the territory into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jewish leadership accepted the proposal but the Arab Higher Committee rejected it; a

Poll photo collection. Middle East 1950-1955: Jerusalem. Pilgrims and tourists on Good Friday in the cross procession in Jerusalem. 1950. Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan

Road to Jericho, Jordan, etc. Peasants dancing before the Tomb of Moses 1900, West Bank

The Wailing Wall 1900, Jerusalem, Israel

Palestine events. The 1929 riots, August 23 to 31. Minaret of the Awkashi mosque. Attendant Sheik in foreground. the Nebi Akasha (Okasha) Mosque, Jerusalem. 1929, Jerusalem

Bringing in the bride 1900, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Basilica of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations or Church of the Agony 1934, Jerusalem, Israel

Bethlehem

State visit to Jerusalem of Wilhelm II of Germany in 1898 Emperor and Empress at Mosque of Omar, Dome of the Rock. 1898, Israel

Mr. Atallah's wedding at Beit Jala. 1940, West Bank, Beit Jala

Where Elijah rested, Valley of Jehosaphat. 1898, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Cana of Galilee. 1898, Israel, Kafr Kannā

Alley at the Jewish synagogue in Vladimir Wolinsky.

Opening of augmented water source in Jaamri Country at Ain Hamda, S.E. of Bethlehem, Group of Bedouins (Jaamri) & government officials at spring. 1940, West Bank, Israel

Christmas in Bethlehem, religious procession. 1898, West Bank, Israel

Refugee camp at the Volga in Samara, famine in Russia, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLVIII, No 45, November 6, 1922.

Damascus, Syria - celebrations on the occasion of the coronation of Prince Faisal as King of Syria - a rein that only lasted 4 months! Date: 1920

Hadj Amin Effendi Grand Mufti 1934, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

The final rinsing, at Ampeliona , Fountains, Laundry. Nicholas Catsimpoolas Collection

A Group of Egyptians in Front of the Temple of Dendera (Dendur) Pascal Sébah (Turkish, 1823-1886). A Group of Egyptians in Front of the Temple of Dendera (Dendur), late 19th century. Albumen silver photograph Photography late 19th century

Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are discontinuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa Oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke various Berber languages, which together form a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Photography probably by Lehnert & Landrock: Rudolf Franz Lehnert (Czech) and Ernst Heinrich Landrock (German) had a photographic company based in Tunis, Cairo and Leipzig before World War II. They specialised in somewhat risque Orinetalist images of young Arab and Bedouin women, often dancers.

Shrines to the god Pan, Banias 1900, Syria, Damascus Province, Bāniyās

Hebron (El-Khalil). Tanning skins for water bottles. 1898, West Bank, Hebron

Poll photo collection. Middle East 1950-1955: Jerusalem. Pilgrims and tourists on good Friday in a street (via Dolorosa) in Jerusalem. 1950. Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan

The Samaritan Passover on Mt. Gerizim Praying standing 1900, West Bank

Proclamation of the new Sultan in the courtyard of the mosque in Rabat, Morocco, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXIX, No 35, September 1, 1912.

Arab demonstration at Yatta General view of the Arab peasantry there, West Bank, Yatta

04/30/1922. Melilla. At the Indigenous police office. The Moors of the Quebdana Cabilda Complimenting the Officials, on the occasion of the appointment of Caid made in favor of the Moor Bu Sfia.

Sunday in front of the church in Vladimir Wolinsky.

Samaritan high priest and ancient scroll 1900, Middle East

Three mask man doing dance on Hemis festival at Hemis Gompa Ladakh ; Jammu and Kashmir ; India

Weli of Budrieh at Sherafat and the preparing of a sacrifice. Collecting the blood for ritual purposes 1900, West Bank

Romeria de Reixach.

The policies of Sultan Sayyid Faysal bin Turki were based on the principle of balance in Omans relationship with Britain and France. In 1884 CE (1312 AH), he agreed to open a French consulate in Muscat, and gave the French a concession to establish a coal storage facility in Al Jassah, in Muscat, in 1898 CE (1316 AH).

Poll photo collection. Israel 1948-1949: Galilee. Adult believers and children on the forecourt of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Anunciation in Nazareth at the Maria Bron on the Easter morning. January 1, 1948. Israel, Nazareth

Arab women at a well, Tripoli, Libya, photograph by D'Armesano, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XL, No 10, March 9, 1913.

Algeria. A group of Tuaregs in their tent in the Saharan Hoggar area.

1898, West Bank, Bethlehem, Israel

6Weighing The Bride A young bride being weighed in a rather undignified way by her husband, after the wedding ceremony in the village church. According to an ancient custom in many Bulgarian villages, the bride is always weighed after the wedding ceremony, and our. July 9, 1934. (Photo by Keystone).

The Samaritan Passover on Mt. Gerizim Prayer on the holy rock, prostrate 1900, West Bank

Palestine is a name given to the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The region is also known as the Land of Israel, the Holy Land and the Southern Levant. In 1832 Palestine was conquered by Muhammad Ali's Egypt, but in 1840 Britain intervened and returned control of the Levant to the Ottomans in return for further capitulations. The end of the 19th century saw the beginning of Zionist immigration and the Revival of the Hebrew language. The movement was publicly supported by Great Britain during World War I with the Balfour Declaration of 1917. The British captured Jerusalem a month later, and were formally awarded a mandate in 1922. In 1947, following World War II and the Holocaust, the British Government announced their desire to terminate the Mandate, and the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition the territory into a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jewish leadership accepted the proposal but the Arab Higher Committee rejected it; a

Palm Sunday, 1937 Abyssinian procession Jerusalem, Israel

Down the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. In the reed church, Abyssinian priests officiating. 1920

Jacob's Well. 1898, West Bank

Nebi Musa. Pass up Gethsemane. 1936, Jerusalem, Middle East, Israel

10/31/1915. The representative of the Sultan of Morocco in Tetouan. Khalifa Mulay el Mehdi arriving at the Tetouan mosque, where he goes every Friday.

Pilgrims praying at the mosque in Damascus, Syria, photograph by TR Dumas and sons, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXVI, No 20, May 14, 1899.

The Samaritan Passover on Mt. Gerizim Breakfast on the mountain 1900, West Bank

Ethiopian Abyssinian churches in Jerusalem Abyssinian chapel above chapel of St. Helena (Church of Holy Sepulchre) 1940, Israel

Shköder, Albania Men and Women Catholics in the Mountain Region of Dukagjin , 1913 - Balkans, Italy - Jean Brunhes and Auguste Léon - (September - October 23) (French - Shköder , Albanie Hommes et femmes mirdites catholiques de la région montagneuse du Dukagjin). Woman, costume, Christianity, exists in high definition, embroidery, group portrait, man, Human beings, clothing, religion, HD, Albania, Scutari, seven Catholics: 4 men and 3 women in the Duhalgin region (9 mountains)

Down the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. New Ethiopian Jordan Monastery. Dedication, Oct. 1, 1933. 1933

Abruzzo, Pescara, Loreto Aprutino, S. Maria in Piano, Italy, 20th century, photo, photography, Europe

Cairo, Egypt, Arab funeral procession, 1890, Historical, digitally restored reproduction after an original from the 19th century.

The Tea Horse Road (Cha Ma Dao) was a network of mule caravan paths winding through the mountains of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet in Southwest China. It is also sometimes referred to as the Southern Silk Road and Ancient Tea and Horse Road. From around a thousand years ago, the Ancient Tea Route was a trade link from Yunnan, one of the first tea-producing regions, to India via Burma, to Tibet, and to central China via Sichuan Province. In addition to tea, the mule caravans carried salt. It is believed that it was through this trading network that tea (typically tea bricks) first spread across China and Asia from its presumed origins in Pu'er county, near Simao Prefecture in Yunnan.

Nebi Musa procession with Rawdat al-Maʻaref boy scouts. 1920, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Story of Ruth. 1898, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine

Groups of Arabs in the Mosque al-Aqsa grounds reading rebel posters. 1934, Jerusalem, Israel

Bethlehem, Church of Nativity with Leorie 1940, West Bank, Bethlehem, Israel

Sinai. Monastery of St. Catherine, Greek monks at the modern entrance, American Colony, Jerusalem. 1898, Egypt

Waterweight Feast for Greek Orthodox in Vladimir Wolinsky.

Franciscan father praying under 'Tree of Agony'. 1934, Jerusalem, Israel

Poll photo collection. Middle East 1950-1955: Jerusalem. Pilgrims and tourists on good Friday in a street (via Dolorosa) in Jerusalem. 1950. Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan

After visits the Greek.Kirche.Skutari. .

Built by King Nantaungmya (r.1211-34) in the 12th century CE, the Mahabodhi temple in Bagan was modeled after the famous Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar State, India, which commemorates the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Bagan's pagoda features a pyramidal spire, covered in niches which enclose seated Buddha figures, rising from a square block. This monument is different from the common bell-shaped ones in Bagan. The lower section of Bagan's Mahabodhi is a quadrangular block supporting the pyramidal structure. The temple was destroyed during the 1975 earthquake, and was repaired in the following years.

Poll photo collection. Israel 1948-1949: Galilee. A Franciscan monk and an unknown man at the fence of the Franciscan monastery in Kapernaum. January 1, 1948. Israel, Kapernaum, Tiberias

Poll photo collection. Middle East 1950-1955: Jerusalem. Priests of the Greek Orthodox Church in procession among scaffolding when leaving the Holy Grafkerk during the Easter celebration. 1950. Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan

Sultan Mehmet V in a carriage after his installation; S.M.J. Le Sultan Mehmed v Après l'Investiture du Sabre. Part of photo album from a journey through Southern Europe and the Middle East.

Group of Bethlehemites 1900, West Bank, Bethlehem, Israel

Poll photo collection. Middle East 1950-1955: Jerusalem. Pilgrims and tourists on good Friday in a street (via Dolorosa) in Jerusalem. 1950. Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan

Poll photo collection. Israel 1948-1949: Galilee. Greek orthodox believers on Easter morning during a procession with candles, banners and lanterns at the Maria Bron on the forecourt of the church of Anunciation in Nazareth. January 1, 1948. Israel, Israel, Nazareth

Indigenous neighborhood, algeri, algeria, africa 1920 1930.

Bedouin wedding Wedding procession 1900, Middle East

View of the Mahdi's tomb mausoleum.

Via Dolorosa. Fifth Station of the Cross. 1898, Jerusalem, Israel

The Virgin's Well of Nazareth, Holy Land, Israel, around 1890, Historical, digitally restored reproduction from a 19th century original.

Feast of the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad, Tangier, Morocco. North of Africa. Morocco by Edmondo de Amicis 1875. Le Tour du Monde 1879

Russian pilgrims returning from the visit to the remains of San Nicola, Bari, Italy, from L'illustrazione Italiana, Year XXIX, No 16, April 20, 1902.

Welcoming the Metropolitan Archbishop Monseigneur Amassias Germanos by the Orthodox Community upon his arrival at Samsun, Turkey, on the coast of the Black Sea. Capital of Samsun Province and important Port. Former Greek colony (BC). Captured by Seljuks in 1200. A Genoese trading post - taken by Ottomans in 15th century. Important trade centre - specialising in tobacco, booming after the arrival of the railway in the late 19th century. Date: circa 1910s

Groups of Arabs in the Mosque al-Aqsa grounds reading rebel posters. 1934, Jerusalem, Israel

Begdler in front of the church in Podhajce. .

8th Station of the Cross 1950, Jerusalem, Israel

El Pedroso (Seville), 1939 (CA.). Spanish Civil War. When the Sevillian town of El Pedroso is liberated, the neighbors take out in procession the virgin that they had hidden during the red domination.

Medina, Saudi Arabia - Hajj Pilgrimage - The Guard of Honour and Custodians of the Sacred Carpet Date: circa 1905

Syria. tel bisseh. shatranj. ancient Indian chess game. 1950

Toledo, 1925 (CA.). Corpus Christi procession, the cathedral and parish crosses leaving the narrow alley of Jesus and Mary.

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