The facade of prayer hall overlooking the courtyard, Umayyad Mosque

The facade of prayer hall overlooking the courtyard, Umayyad Mosque

Jamiʿ(mosque) al-Hanabila - north-south section with the prayer hall, courtyard, and the minaret

Jamiʿ(mosque) al-Hanabila – north-south section with the prayer hall, courtyard, and the minaret

Arwad, Ayyubid fort, courtyard

Arwad, Ayyubid fort, courtyard

Qasr (palace) Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm, inner courtyard

Qasr (palace) Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm, inner courtyard

Izraʿ, al-Jamiʿ (Mosque) al-ʿUmari - the courtyard

Izraʿ, al-Jamiʿ (Mosque) al-ʿUmari – the courtyard

Jurn Kabir, a rural house, where each room has its own door opening on the courtyard

Jurn Kabir, a rural house, where each room has its own door opening on the courtyard

Bimaristan Arghun, octagonal courtyard - fountain

Bimaristan Arghun, octagonal courtyard – fountain

Aleppo Great Mosque, Courtyard, 2018

Aleppo Great Mosque, Courtyard, 2018

Khan Sulayman Basha, view into the courtyard

Khan Sulayman Basha, view into the courtyard

Raqqa, Great Mosque (al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq), the courtyard

Raqqa, Great Mosque (al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq), the courtyard

Raqqa, Qasr (Palace) al-Banat, an octagonal basin in the centre of the courtyard

Raqqa, Qasr (Palace) al-Banat, an octagonal basin in the centre of the courtyard

Courtyard of a rural house in the Ghouta of Damascus

Courtyard of a rural house in the Ghouta of Damascus

Habuba Kabira, Milking a goat in the courtyard: Grandmother and granddaughters

Habuba Kabira, Milking a goat in the courtyard: Grandmother and granddaughters

Khan at-Tutun, courtyard

Khan at-Tutun, courtyard

Habuba Kabira, in the courtyard clay bricks are lying out to dry

Habuba Kabira, in the courtyard clay bricks are lying out to dry

Near Tall Tamir, an Assyrian village, courtyard of a house with two later flattened domes of the original building

Near Tall Tamir, an Assyrian village, courtyard of a house with two later flattened domes of the original building

Kafra, in the courtyard behind a huge central hall house

Kafra, in the courtyard behind a huge central hall house

In the outer courtyard of the ʿAzm-Palace, now the museum of the arts and popular traditions of Damascus

In the outer courtyard of the ʿAzm-Palace, now the museum of the arts and popular traditions of Damascus

Raqqa - Qasr al-Banat, inner courtyard

Raqqa – Qasr al-Banat, inner courtyard

ar-Raqqa - Qasr al-Banat, the courtyard surrounded by four iwans

ar-Raqqa – Qasr al-Banat, the courtyard surrounded by four iwans

Qasr al-ʿAzm, view of the ground floor courtyard

Qasr al-ʿAzm, view of the ground floor courtyard

Bayt Ghazala, courtyard - northern facade

Bayt Ghazala, courtyard – northern facade

One of the Basilica aisles, is separated from the central courtyard by a row of arches based on columns, Basilica A, ar-Rusafa

One of the Basilica aisles, is separated from the central courtyard by a row of arches based on columns, Basilica A, ar-Rusafa

Bimaristan Arghun, octagonal courtyard - fountain

Bimaristan Arghun, octagonal courtyard – fountain

Bayt Ghazala, courtyard and western facade - main hall's (qaʿa) facade

Bayt Ghazala, courtyard and western facade – main hall’s (qaʿa) facade

Bimaristan Arghun, view of main courtyard

Bimaristan Arghun, view of main courtyard

Izraʿ, al-Jamiʿ (Mosque) al-ʿUmari - the courtyard

Izraʿ, al-Jamiʿ (Mosque) al-ʿUmari – the courtyard

View inside the courtyard of Manjak Mosque

View inside the courtyard of Manjak Mosque

The courtyard of an-Nuri Mosque

The courtyard of an-Nuri Mosque

Bimaristan an-Nuri, courtyard- entrances to single rooms

Bimaristan an-Nuri, courtyard- entrances to single rooms