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Old city of Damascus

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Theold city of Damascus(Arabic:دِمَشْق ٱلْقَدِيمَة,romanized:Dimašq al-Qadīmah) is the historic city centre ofDamascus,Syria.The old city, which is one of theoldest continuously inhabited citiesin the world,[1]contains numerous archaeological sites, including some historical churches and mosques. Many cultures have left their mark, especially Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic. In 1979, the historical center of the city, surrounded by walls ofRomanera, was declared aWorld Heritage SitebyUNESCO.In June 2013, UNESCO included all Syrian sites on the list ofWorld Heritage in Dangerto warn of the risks to which they are exposed because of theSyrian Civil War.[2]

Old city of Damascus
UNESCO World Heritage Site
LocationDamascus,Syria
IncludesUmayyad Mosque,Azm Palace,Citadel of Damascus
CriteriaCultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi)
Reference20bis
Inscription1979 (3rdSession)
Extensions2011
Endangered2013–2018
Area86.12 ha (0.3325 sq mi)
Buffer zone42.60 ha (0.1645 sq mi)
Coordinates33°30′41″N36°18′23″E/ 33.51139°N 36.30639°E/33.51139; 36.30639
Old city of Damascus is located in Syria
Old city of Damascus
Location of Old city of Damascus in Syria
Old city of Damascus is located in West and Central Asia
Old city of Damascus
Old city of Damascus (West and Central Asia)
Map of Damascus in 1855

Origins and founding

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Lying on the south bank ofBarada River,the ancient city was founded in the 3rd millennium B.C. The horizontal diameter of the oval is about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) which is known asDamascus Straight Street,while the vertical diameter (Latin:Cardus Maximus) is about 1 km (0.6 mi). With an approximate area of 86.12 hectares (212.8 acres; 0.86 km2), the ancient city was enclosed within a historic wall of 4.5 km (2.8 mi) in circuit that was mainly built by the Romans, then fortified by theAyyubidsandMamluks.[2]

1906 map in French

The first mentioning of Damascus was as "Ta-ms-qu" in the second millennium BC, it was situated in anAmoriteregion in the middle of a conflict zone between theHittitesandEgyptians.The city exercised tributary until the emergence of theSea Peoplesin 1200 BC whose raids helped in weakening the arch rivals. Consequently, the SemiticArameansmanaged to establish the independent state ofAram-Damascus(11th century – 733 BC), naming the main city as ‘Dimashqu’ or ‘Darmeseq’.[3]

Historical timeline

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Main article:Damascus § History
See also:List of rulers of Damascus

Throughout its history, Damascus has been part of the following states:

Main sights

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Typical ancient Damascene street

Damascus has a wealth of historical sites dating back to many different periods of the city's history. Since the city has been built up with every passing occupation, it has become almost impossible to excavate all the ruins of Damascus that lie up to 2.4 m (8 ft) below the modern level. TheCitadel of Damascusis located in the northwest corner of the Old City. TheDamascus Straight Street(referred to in theconversionofSt. PaulinActs9:11), also known as theVia Recta,was thedecumanus(east–west main street) of Roman Damascus, and extended for over 1,500 m (4,900 ft). Today, it consists of the street of Bab Sharqi and the Souk Medhat Pasha, a covered market. TheBab Sharqistreet is filled with small shops and leads to the old Christian quarter ofBab Tuma(St. Thomas's Gate).Medhat Pasha Souqis also a main market in Damascus and was named afterMidhat Pasha,the Ottoman governor of Syria who renovated the Souk. At the end of the Bab Sharqi street, one reaches theHouse of Ananias,an underground chapel that was the cellar ofAnanias's house. TheUmayyad Mosque,also known as the Grand Mosque of Damascus, is one of the largest mosques in the world and also one of the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the rise of Islam. A shrine in the mosque is said to contain the body ofSt. John the Baptist.ThemausoleumwhereSaladinwas buried is located in the gardens just outside the mosque.Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque,the shrine of the youngest daughter ofHusayn ibn Ali,can also be found near the Umayyad Mosque. The ancient district ofAmarais also within a walking distance from these sites. Another heavily visited site isSayyidah Zaynab Mosque,where the tomb ofZaynab bint Aliis believed to be located.

Souqs and Khans

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Al-Hamidiyah Souq

Historic buildings

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Ruins of the Jupiter Temple at the entrance of Al-Hamidiyah Souq
Azm Palace

Madrasas

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Places of worship

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Mosques

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The Umayyad Mosque

Churches

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Inside theChapel of Saint Ananias.
Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus.

Gates

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The old part of the city is surrounded with 4.5-kilometre-long (2.8-mile) thick walls,[13]pierced by the seven historical gates, the eighth gate was added later by Muslims. These are, clockwise from the north-east side:

Hammams

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The presence of public baths (ḥammāms) in Damascus started during theUmayyadera, while some historians date them back to theRomanera. The Damascene baths were mentioned by a number of Damascus historians, such asIbn 'Asakir(1106–1175 AD) in his famous book "The History of Damascus". In his book, Ibn 'Asakir named 77 of baths working at that time within the city. The historianIbn Shaddadcounted 114 baths located in Damascus in 1250 AD.

The number of these baths increased to 365 during theOttomanera, then decreased drastically to reach 60 baths in the late nineteenth century AD. Today, however, the number of baths in full operation is barely 20, the most famous of them is the "Nour al-Din al-Shahid" bath in theAl-Buzuriyah Souq.[14]

Districts and subdivisions

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Al-Amarah District

Preservation of the ancient city

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Threats to the future of the old City

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Narrow alley in old Damascus

Due to the rapid decline of the population of Old Damascus (between 1995 and 2009 about 30,000 people moved out of the old city for more modern accommodation),[15]a growing number of buildings are being abandoned or are falling into disrepair. In March 2007, the local government announced that it would be demolishing Old City buildings along a 1,400 m (4,600 ft) stretch of rampart walls as part of a redevelopment scheme. These factors resulted in the Old City being placed by theWorld Monuments Fundon its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world.[16][17]

Current state of old Damascus

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In spite of the recommendations of theUNESCOWorld Heritage Center:[18]

  • Souq al-Atiq, a protected buffer zone, was destroyed in three days in November 2006;
  • King Faysal Street, a traditional hand-craft region in a protected buffer zone near the walls of Old Damascus between the Citadel andBab Touma,is threatened by a proposed motorway.
  • In 2007, the Old City of Damascus and notably the district ofBab Tumahave been recognized by The World Monument Fund as one of the most endangered sites in the world.[19]

In October 2010,Global Heritage Fundnamed Damascus one of 12cultural heritage sitesmost "on the verge" of irreparable loss and destruction.[20]

The old city outside of the walls of the Roman era, is also considered part of the old Damascus, however, it hasn't been given the same historical priority. During the French mandate, Michel Écochard, the French architect, planned an urban scheme for the city, that advised to only reserve the parts of the old city inside the Roman walls. This approach has been adopted later by the ruling governments of Syria, which contributed to demolishing parts of its old neighborhoods. Old houses in Sarouja, Al Midan, and Shagour Barrani was replaced by new buildings for trade mainly.[21][22]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toAncient City of Damascus.

References

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  1. ^Eldredge, Nilesand Horenstein, Sidney (2014).Concrete Jungle: New York City and Our Last Best Hope for a Sustainable Future.Berkeley, California:University of California Press.p. 21.ISBN978-0-520-27015-2.
  2. ^ab"Ancient City of Damascus".UNESCO.Retrieved29 October2017.
  3. ^Ross Burns (2005).Damascus: A History.Routledge. pp.4–8.ISBN0-203-93995-6.
  4. ^abcdسوق الحميدية - اكتشف سورية
  5. ^Al-Hamidiyah Souk, main Damascus shopping centre - The Arab Weekly
  6. ^Burns, 2005, p. 61.
  7. ^Finegan, 1981, pp. 58–60.
  8. ^Archnet, Maktab Anbar Restoration
  9. ^"Syria".Mailviruskid.tripod.Retrieved2016-10-14.
  10. ^abRihawi, Abd al-Qadir al-; Ouéchek, Émilie E. (1975). "Les deuxtakiyyade Damas ".Bulletin d'études orientales.Vol. 28. Institut Francais du Proche-Orient. pp. 217–225.JSTOR41604595.
  11. ^"Saint Ananias Chapel".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-11.Retrieved2017-11-04.
  12. ^Correspondent, a Times Special (2013-09-09)."Damascus residents fear a U.S. strike will bring rebel onslaught".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.Retrieved2016-11-24.{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help)
  13. ^"سور دمشق وأبوابها السبعة استخدمت في السابق لصد الغزاة ولاستقبال ضيوف الخلفاء والأمراء وتستثمر حاليا سياحيا حيث تجذب السياح والمهتمين بالآثار".الشرق الأوسط(in Arabic). 23 February 2003.
  14. ^"Hammams of Old Damascus: Back from the Dead".Huffington Post.11 January 2016.
  15. ^Hendawi, Hamza (2009-02-01)."Old Damascus struggles to cope in the new Syria".The San Diego Union-Tribune.The Associated Press.Retrieved13 August2017.
  16. ^World Monuments Fund."2008 World Monuments Watch List Of 100 Most Endangered Sites"(PDF).World Monuments Fund.World Monuments Fund. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 20 March 2013.Retrieved27 July2015.
  17. ^"2008 Panelists Bios"(PDF).World Monuments Fund. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 13, 2008.Retrieved3 September2009.
  18. ^"The British Syrian Society".The British Syrian Society. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-06-23.Retrieved29 May2009.
  19. ^"Worldmonuments.org".Worldmonuments.org. Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2002.Retrieved6 November2011.
  20. ^"GHF".Global Heritage Fund. Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2011.Retrieved1 June2011.
  21. ^"Archnet".
  22. ^"No Damascus like home".

Bibliography

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