Syria · World's Oldest Capital
دمشق
Syria
2.5 Million
Southwest Syria, Anti-Lebanon Foothills
UTC+3 (AST)
Damascus, known as "Ash-Sham" in Arabic, claims to be the world's oldest continuously inhabited capital city, with settlements dating back over 11,000 years. Located in the fertile Ghouta oasis at the foot of Mount Qasioun, the city has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations - Aramaean, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic. Its strategic position on ancient trade routes made it a commercial and cultural crossroads throughout history.
The Old City of Damascus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves an extraordinary layered history within its ancient walls. Roman gates still stand, while the magnificent Umayyad Mosque represents one of Islam's oldest and holiest sites. The labyrinthine souks, traditional courtyard houses, and historic caravanserais create an urban fabric of exceptional historical significance. Before the civil war, Damascus was renowned for its harmonious blend of religions and cultures.
The Syrian civil war since 2011 has tragically impacted Damascus and its people, though the Old City suffered less damage than other Syrian cities. As conflict diminishes in recent years, Damascus has begun cautious reconstruction. Despite the devastating war's effects, the city's millennia of history and cultural significance endure, and Damascenes maintain hope for peace and recovery. When stability returns, Damascus will remain one of humanity's most historically significant cities.
One of the oldest and largest mosques in the world, built in the 8th century on the site of a Christian basilica (which replaced a Roman temple). The mosque houses relics including the head of John the Baptist (Yahya) and represents a pinnacle of Islamic architecture.
Damascus's main covered market stretches nearly half a kilometer beneath a vaulted iron roof pierced by bullet holes from the 1925 revolt against France. The ancient market sells everything from spices to textiles and remains the commercial heart of old Damascus.
Syria's premier museum houses treasures spanning thousands of years, including the reconstructed synagogue from Dura-Europos with its remarkable frescoes. Collections document the region's role as a cradle of civilization.
This historic gate leads into the Christian Quarter of the Old City, where narrow streets are lined with traditional courtyard houses, churches, and the famous Ananias Chapel where Paul was baptized according to tradition.
The massive citadel in the northwest corner of the Old City dates primarily from the Ayyubid period (12th-13th centuries). Though in need of restoration, it remains an impressive monument to Damascus's medieval power.
This 18th-century Ottoman palace exemplifies the traditional Damascene courtyard house at its grandest. Now a museum of arts and popular traditions, its marble courtyards, reception halls, and gardens showcase the refinement of Ottoman-era Damascus.
Before the civil war, Damascus was Syria's commercial and industrial center, with textiles, food processing, and crafts. The famous Damascus steel and sword-making traditions had declined but craft production of brocades, brass, and woodwork continued. The war devastated the economy, with sanctions, displacement, and infrastructure destruction. As conflict diminishes, slow reconstruction begins, though economic recovery remains distant. The resilient souks have partially reopened, and Damascenes demonstrate remarkable determination to rebuild normal life despite ongoing hardships.
Syrian culture is extraordinarily rich, drawing on thousands of years of civilization. Damascus contributed enormously to human heritage - Damascene steel, textiles, cuisine, and architecture influenced the world. The city's cuisine - hummus, falafel, shawarma, and sweets like baklava - has become globally popular. Traditional music and the maqam system influenced regional musical traditions. Before the war, Damascus was known for religious tolerance, with Christians, Muslims, and Jews living side by side. The literary and artistic traditions remain vital. Despite recent tragedy, Syrian cultural pride endures among those who remain and the millions in diaspora, all hoping to rebuild their ancient city.
Archaeological evidence suggests settlements in the Damascus area from 10,000-8,000 BCE, making it among humanity's oldest continuously inhabited cities. The city became significant under the Aramaeans (11th century BCE), who established it as a major trading center. It subsequently passed through Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenistic rule. Under Rome, Damascus flourished as a commercial center on the silk road. The conversion of Saint Paul occurred here according to tradition.
The Islamic conquest in 636 CE transformed Damascus's destiny. The Umayyad Caliphate (661-750) made it capital of an empire stretching from Spain to Central Asia, leaving the magnificent Umayyad Mosque as its enduring monument. Though the Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad, Damascus remained important through subsequent centuries of Fatimid, Crusader-era, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman rule. French mandate control (1920-1946) was followed by independence and eventual Ba'ath Party rule from 1963. The Assad family has ruled since 1970, with the brutal civil war beginning in 2011 as part of the Arab Spring. The conflict caused immense destruction and displacement, though Damascus's Old City survived relatively intact. As Syria moves toward uncertain peace, Damascus's ancient legacy awaits a new chapter.
Bureau Chief 지원자는 물론, Damascus를 방문하시는 모든 분들을 위해
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