1890: The first colour photographs of the Middle East

The Middle East is a colourful place, whether it be its people, architecture, culture or food.

But in the 1890s, long before colour photography was born, the true beauty of the ME could only be captured through black-and-white photos.

Using 21st Century technology, a splash of colour was added to images showing Middle Eastern towns, attractions and people from that period, using the Photochrom technique pioneered by the Swiss firm Photoglob Zurich AG.

These are the most captivating black-and-white negatives-turned-colourful.

Syrian women making bread

The Pyramids, Egypt

Sheikh of Palestine village

Bedouins

Lydda, as known as Lod today

Cairo mosque

A water carrier in Jerusalem

Haifa city, Palestine

Jewish men in Jerusalem

Hebron, Palestine

Tyre city, Lebanon