“Waiting for the Souq to Open”
19.6 x 16.9 cm
HERE'S THE STORY
These figures are all waiting for the souq, or traditional market, to open its door for the new day’s business. The two Omani men are using the new must-have accoutrement of Arab attire – the cell phone. Omanis may dress traditionally but they buy into technology like crazy. The cat – not so much. He’s just resting up for a day of scrounging for something to eat and maybe a cool nap in the shade. These doors to the Mutrah Souq in Muscat are very old indeed. The large, whole, door can be opened to let in supplies to be sold inside. The smaller, inset door was used for people traffic. Today, the souq doesn’t hunker down behind fortifying wall with guarded gates. The shops may be still in the old style but their goods are secured by steel pull-down gates and padlocks. A souq has existed on this site for 600 years. The story of Mutrah Souq is a fascinating one and well told in the amazing book, Throw Down the Anchor: The Story of Mutrah Souq by Maxine Burden.
