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The Khan Murjan (Arabic: خان مرجان, also: Khan Marjan) is a building in the souk of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built by the Jalayirid governor of Baghdad, Amin al-Din Murjan in the 14th century originally as a caravanserai, an inn for traveling merchants, with a large center hall that was 13 metres (43 ft) high.[1][2][3] It features crenelated arches of brick, as well as perforated windows.[2]
The building was reputedly in a state of disrepair for over two centuries, with waist-high flood water from the Tigris standing in the famous hallway. By the mid-1980s, the building had been restored and was in use as a restaurant.[1][4]
The Khan Murjan was built between 1356 and 1358 by Amin al-Din Murjan, the Jalayirid governor of Baghdad whom had also built the nearby Murjan Mosque.[5] The khan is distinguished from other khans, another term for caravanserai, by its architecture: its inner courtyard is covered by huge arches of bricks, with a ceiling height of 13 metres. The khan has two floors: the ground floor contains 22 rooms, and the upper floor contains 23 rooms.[6] The outside is decorated with Islamic calligraphy. [7] The main function of the khan is to shelter merchants, their caravans, their goods, and the animals carrying the goods. It also remains one of the rare khans whose plan did not include an open central courtyard, as is the case with the designs of most other khans. [5]
In 1937, a Museum of Arab Antiquities was opened in the former Khan Murjan building.[8] This museum was dedicated to Islamic artifacts in a show of Arab nationalism by the Director of Antiquities, Sati' al-Husri.[9] By the mid-1980s, under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, the building was turned into a tourist restaurant in which it materialized an authentic Baghdadi atmosphere with Iraqi Maqam being played inside. Waiters could be found in traditional clothing with guests singing at their tables. Additionally, Maqam artists such as Yousef Omar have been invited to play.[6]
Today, the Khan Murjan is among the oldest of the remaining khans in Iraq and is operated by Liwan for Culture and Development and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH).[10] Its restoration is being led by the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.[10]
The influence of the Khan Murjan is apparent beyond Baghdad. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Khan Murjan Souk at WAFI Mall is a popular tourist destination. The mall spectacle has four quarters that are set in a 14th-century souk with decorations and architecture influenced by historic Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Turkey.[11] The WAFI Mall also hosts the Khan Murjan Restaurant, where people can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.[12]
In Tampa, Florida, a restaurant called the Khan Murjan served traditional Iraqi and Halal food. The restaurant was closed as of November 2023.[13]
Bernhardsson, M.T. 2005. Reclaiming a Plundered Past, Archaeology and Nation Building in Modern Iraq. Austin, TX, USA: University of Texas Press.
- Babaie, Sussan (2019). Iran After the Mongols. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1788315289.
