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An intriguing hypothesis was proposed by the German orientalist Hans von Kiesling regarding the origin of the damascene courtyard house. To him, the Roman house as a prototype has been preserved in one form or another for the last two millennia, not only within the confines of the Mediterranean Basin and the Oikoumene, but also as far away as the New World, specifically South America, where it was transplanted by European immigrants.
Only economic and religious considerations required deviation from the ancient Roman model. Damascus is a case in point. Its territory has been settled from time immemorial and, within its walls, available land is scarce. Consequently, city dwellers had to add another story to the ground floor in order to separate family quarters (private) from those designated for guests (public). Wealthy Damascenes could afford multiple courtyards. Accordingly, they partitioned their home into an outer (barrāni برّاني or سلاملك) and an inner (juwwāni جوّاني or ḥaramlik حرملك) component; the latter one is usually larger and more opulent. A third subdivision may exist for service and amenities.
Traditional Damascene homes are oriented inwards around their central courtyard, an incarnation of the Roman Atrium. There exists a major difference between the Roman model and its Syrian successor, however: privacy is of the utmost importance in the Near East and the straight Roman entrance had therefore to yield to an angled corridor, the purpose of which is to shield the women of the household from indiscreet looks of passers by.
Seldom do women leave their house, hence the need to make domestic life as pleasant as possible. A basin with fresh bubbling water in the middle of a courtyard lush with assorted vegetation simulated a shady oasis with trees, flowers, fruits, and sweet aromas. elements keenly appreciated in this arid country.
In addition to its esthetic and soothing advantages, the courtyard serves as a distributor for the rooms arranged on its periphery. A step or a small staircase leads to the room's entrance. An elegant vestibule defined by slender columns may serve the same purpose in rich dwellings.
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