The Arguileh as Witness to Lebanese Life

If one was to look for an item that unites the Lebanese, a man2oushé is a good place to start. But as popular as the breakfast staple is, there is another object that has continuously witnessed all aspects of Lebanese public life.

From politics, to weddings to modern art, the mighty arguileh established itself as an ultimate cultural icon, an icon that was never camera-shy.

Politics and Activism

In the Last few weeks, we had many events that involved an iconic picture of an Arguileh

The Tripoli clashes

The Jalledib Bridge Protests

Whatever the nature of the protest, the arguileh has always been around. Remember those famous tents in Beirut?

Tent city

On the Road

Speaking of the Jalledib protests, it created one of Lebanon’s largest traffic jams and people got bored out of their minds. Luckily, help was at hand:

Arguileh Delivery

These guys will make sure an arguileh is always a phone call away

If you can’t afford a delivery, you can always share one with your traffic buddies

A treat for all seasons

Winter

..or Summer

Social Events

Sharing a smoke in traffic is just one aspect of the Lebanese bonding over arguilehs. Whenever two or more Lebanese meet, an arguileh is likely to join soon

Courtship

Weddings

Date Nights

Girls night out

Boys day out

House parties

Art and Commerce

Arguiles are not just companions, they’re also the subject matter of artistic expression and commercial enterprise

Photography

Modern Sculpture

Artisanry

Billboards

Posters

… And if everything else fails..

You can always build your own arguileh:

This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you have a classic picture of an arguileh, a picture you believe belongs here, please by all means let me know about it in the comments section..