Old city The word
kasbah may also be used to describe the old part of a city, in which case it has the same meaning as a
medina quarter. In
Algiers, the name
qasaba originally referred to the upper part of the city which contained the citadel and residence of the rulers. Following the
French conquest of the country in 1830, most of the historic lower town of Algiers was demolished and remodeled along
European lines. The only part of the old city that remained relatively untouched was the upper town, thus known as the
"Casbah" of Algiers. Another book describes these towers as follows: "Apparently unique to Asir architecture are the qasaba towers. Controversy surrounds their function – some argue that they were built as lookouts, and others that they were
keeps, or even granaries. Perhaps it is a combination, although the right position of a
watchtower, on a hill top, is the wrong place for a keep or
granary." Archaeologists have found images of similar towers in the ruins of
Qaryat al-Fāw, in the
Rub' al Khali of Saudi Arabia, that date from between the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. "Homes rose two stories, supported by stone walls nearly two meters (6') thick and boasting such amenities as water-supply systems and second-floor latrines. One eye-catching mural faintly depicts a multi-story tower house with figures in the windows: Its design resembles similar dwellings today in
Yemen and southern
Saudi Arabia." "Most of the qasabas have a circular plan, although some are square. Sometimes they have a band of
quartz stones just below the windows or framing the windows – one well preserved example is at the top of Wadi Ain. The remains of a
martello tower-like stone structure are just off the dirt track north of Al-Masnah. It appears to be an interesting antecedent of the
Asir farmhouse and perhaps closely related to the qasaba. It is in ruins now, but was once a dwelling and is strongly defensive." ==See also==