Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/03/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The same enclosures are seen in Iraq, Jordan, and the UAE (and I am sure other places, but that's the extent of my experience). On what can be bleak and uninviting streets, behind the walls one can find lush gardens. I think, to some extent, the concept of "purdah" figures into the walled compound reasoning. Purdah is the sequestering of women (the burqa is a portable form). Women can be relaxed and uncovered when they are around "mahram", which denotes male family members, and not seen by the casual passers-by. The Afghans tend to take this concept more seriously than do the Arabs although in the Emirates most Arab women will wear the niqab, or the veil with only the eyes showing (a Wahabbi thing). A typical complaint encountered here in Kabul are the large multi-story villas (aka "poppy palaces") overlooking the walled compounds which encroaches on the privacy of a more modest home. Islam plays a part in all of this, but much of it is cultural. It's become entangled in religion despite the strictures of the Holy Quran which require a woman to "cover her charms" and "not stamp her feet". It's all pretty fascinating, really. Wendy On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 11:14 AM, Hugh Thompson <hewthompson at mac.com> wrote: > Philippe - thank you very much for your supportive comments, much > appreciated. > > I believe the walls are firstly to delineate ownership. I saw this in > Pakistan, and in Egypt. Secondly to keep in animals, I would think. Wendy > would know more about this as she travels to the rural areas quite > frequently. > > Hugh > > > > On 7-Mar-10, at 10:57 PM, philippe.amard wrote: > > I'm quite surprised at the walls surrounding the estates, which anyone >> could climb and trespass. So my question is : are they meant for animals, >> preventing their escape or keeping them safe from predators? >> >> I love the carpets, pillows and shoes. I can feel the warmth of the sun >> there. >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >