Stories of nobility and authenticity.. “Today” reveals the secrets of the ancient Shouna Castle in historic Jeddah
The ancient Shouna Castle is a prominent architectural icon located in the heart of the Historic Jeddah, with its ancient history extending from the sixteenth century AD until the twentieth century.
This strategic site witnessed major pivotal transformations in its area and function, directly linked to the political, economic and military changes that the region underwent through the ages.
Reconstruction of Jeddah’s Fortifications
In a tour for “Al-Youm” inside the corridors of the castle, it observed features of the Mamluk era that all evidence indicates. Historically, the construction of this fortified structure dates back to the period between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries AD.
Historians believe that its construction came as part of the campaign to rebuild Jeddah’s fortifications during the reign of Sultan Al-Ghuri, to be an impregnable defensive dam against Portuguese ships.
Military Defensive Force
The fortified tower that contains the regular “mazaghil” is clearly visible in the northwestern corner of the site, which are the narrow openings that were designated for firing arrows and weapons. Firearms to defend the city, which confirms that the site performed a purely military function in the past, whether as a barracks for soldiers or a strategic storehouse for equipment, weapons, and ammunition.
Transformation into a commercial warehouse
By the nineteenth century AD, the site had transformed into an official government warehouse known among the people as “Al-Shouna” for storing strategic materials such as grains and wood.
With the entry of the twentieth century, the site witnessed a new transformation to become a private warehouse for merchants that received goods. Imported from all over the world, which reflects the growing commercial importance of the city of Jeddah at that time.
A global tourist attraction
Today, Al-Shouna Castle attracts visitors and tourists of various nationalities as part of the historical Jeddah events organized by the Punch Mark Company, where the public is able to explore the secrets of this historical landmark registered on the World Heritage List, and learn about its ancient history through a unique cultural and entertainment experience that revives the beautiful past in a modern and attractive manner.
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