Damascus
In the midst of sorrow and devastation it is easy to forget beauty and history. For Syrians living in Damascus the wreckage that the war has produced and the harsh living conditions have sometimes made them oblivious to the place they live in. It has made them forget that it is a world heritage site for being the oldest continually inhabited city-for encompassing many civilization, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic.
Damascus boasts of many monuments from the great Ummayed Mosque to other no less grand monuments like Azem Palace, the citadel of Damascus and many , many others.
Damascus was also a trade center for the whole middle east and Mediterranean area- a hot spot breathing life and culture into the region.
Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specializing in governance, development and security. Most of all she is a lover of Damascus where she currently resides. The following article reflects, her thoughts and feelings about the place she lives in.
Syria: The place where history, mythology and mysticism meet
The high number of deaths emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic has evoked introspection. Questions about the source, purpose and value of life, in particular, have dominated contemplations, as more loved ones departed from this earth than usual, and as resolutions for 2021 were being formed. While taking all necessary safety precautions into consideration, a pilgrimage to Syria could provide consolation in these troubled times. The country’s rich and well-preserved historical, archaeological, and religious sites provide an enchanting serenity, especially now that peace is in the process of being restored.
Syria is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Fossils confirm that Neanderthals wandered the land as far back as 700,000 years ago. It necessitates a visit to Syria to appreciate why its citizens love their country so much that they will do whatever is required to prevent it from falling into foreign hands. Syrians have outlasted occupation by numerous regimes, some of which included the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Ottomans and they fought a bloody revolution against the French before gaining independence in April 1946. It was inevitable that the recent attempt at regime-change would be resisted. Throughout these invasions, Syrians not just defended their right to dignity, they also sought to preserve the primeval, while embracing the new.
The country boasts an endless litany of wonder-cities that include Bosra, Palmyra, Aleppo and Latakia, all of which present lessons in the evolution of humanity, culture, architecture, religion and civilisation in general. The more obvious marvel however is Damascus, Syria’s capital, and now its most populous city. Known as the “pearl of the east” due to is lushness and beauty, it is one of, if not the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back to approximately the year 2500 BC.