Damascus is the capital of Syria and its second largest city, known for its ancient origin and rich history.
Mentions about the village begin in biblical times and even somewhat earlier. It has not yet been reliably established exactly when the city appeared. There are suggestions that the capital Damascus was founded by Adam and Eve. And according to other versions, it is believed that its construction was the first after the Flood. But historical information says that the earliest references to the city appear in the XV century. BC e. Then it was in the possession of the Egyptian pharaohs and was called Dimashq. Since that time, Damascus has been called the center of trade and crafts.
The announcement of the capital and further fate
From the X century BC e. the city gains the status of the capital of the Damascus state of the Aramaic people. But after two centuries, the Assyrian invaders conquer these lands. Executions, defeats, and from this moment the city becomes part of Assyria. But this does not last long. In the VI century. BC e., after the decline of Assyria, Damascus departs to the New Babylonian kingdom, and after it to the Persian conquerors.
It was after this event that students of secondary schools often asked a question: "Damascus - the capital of which country?" The exact answer can be found below.
After several centuries, the detachments of Alexander the Great occupy the city. The Greeks, despite the militancy, are quite respectful of the buildings and inhabitants of the conquered area. It was at this time that Damascus was growing, and the quality of roads and city buildings was improving. After the death of Alexander the Great, the empire was divided into many small estates. And in 64 BC. e. the conqueror Gnei Pompey joins the territory of the city to the Roman Empire. Syria is becoming a province.
During this period, the capital of Damascus flourishes as a center of trade, since the most important trade routes pass through it. The Romans in every way try to protect the city from robbers and raiders. For this purpose, a wall with seven gates is erected around it and an artificially created sleeve from the Barady River is brought to Damascus. Since 395, after the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western, this territory departs to Byzantium and remains its part until the 7th century.
Since 661, the city has been ruled by the Umayyads, who begin to preach Islam. But already in the VIII century, the Abassid dynasty came to rule and the capital was transferred to Baghdad. Warriors of the new rulers destroy and burn the buildings of the Umayyads, in addition, they destroy the walls built by the Romans.
Hard time in Damascus
From this moment, the time of troubles begins for Damascus. Power is replaced by Egyptian rulers, conquering Turks, and the Crusades do not bypass the ancient city. In 1300, the Mongols conquered Damascus and bring death and destruction with them. In 1400, Tamerlan almost completely destroys the city and captures its best artisans and gunsmiths. Since 1516, this territory becomes one of the parts of the Ottoman Empire and remains in its composition until the XIX century. During this time, the development of the city stands still and it becomes an unremarkable provincial part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1920, Damascus was incorporated into France. And it remains a part of it until 1943, when Syria gains independence and the city is once again returned to the status of capital.
Territory and name
The territory of the capital of Syria is located on a plateau. The distance to Damascus from the Mediterranean Sea is about 80 kilometers. The total area is 105 square meters. km and a small part of the city is occupied by Mount Qashiyun. According to tradition, it was in these places that Abel was killed. This fully explains the name of the city - Damascus, which means “brother’s blood” in Aramaic. For some time, the capital of Syria was surrounded by an oasis, and the river supplied it with water. But gradually Damascus expanded, the oasis became smaller and dirtier, and the Barada watercourse is now practically dry.
Climate
As for the weather, summers are usually arid, hot, but since the city rises 700 m above sea level, it brings a life-giving coolness. In winter, the temperature can drop to +6 ° C and even snow can fall. The hottest month is July. And, it should be noted that even if the day was very warm, the night will still be pretty cool.
Population and religion
The capital of Damascus is home to 1.75 million people, but this is only according to official estimates. Other sources speak of a much larger number, which reaches almost 4 million.
Religion is an important part of Damascus’s life. Christianity and Islam coexist in this territory. Most residents of Damascus belong to the Sunni religion. Christians make up only about 10% of the population. In addition to the main religious trends in Damascus, there is a Jewish community.
Damascus - a city that is an important center of Syria
The capital of Syria is not only a historical center, but also, of course, an industrial one. Here, in addition to trade, originating in antiquity, the food and pharmacological industry is actively developing. Also, the textile industry definitely occupies a leading place in the development of the city's economy. A huge contribution is made by various types of crafts that appeared in the deep past. This is the production of various gold, silver jewelry, carpets, fabrics. Legendary Damascus steel products are still interesting for visitors from different countries.
Tourism
Often people wonder whether Damascus is the capital of a country, because many have heard positive stories about the culture of this city.
Recently, tourism development has been actively contributing to the economic recovery of Damascus. The city is rich in sights, historical monuments, and a variety of goods attracts travelers from all countries. In addition, the construction of hotels, cafes, restaurants contributes to a comfortable stay in the capital of Syria. Which, of course, attracts tourists who like to relax with amenities.
Education
The capital of Damascus is rightfully considered the educational center of Syria. Here is its largest and oldest university, which opened its doors back in 1903. In addition to the country's main educational institution, there are also private institutions: the Syrian Virtual University, the Arab International University, the International University of Science and Technology and others.
Parts of the city
Since the history of Damascus is rich in raids of invaders and battles, the city is full of traces of destruction suffered in battles. There are two parts of the city: Old and New. It is the Old Part that is most interesting to visit. Here you can find traces of the surviving wall, built by the Roman invaders. The seven gates that have been preserved in the wall attract many tourists. In addition, the entire layout of the old part of the city is considered a legacy of the Roman Empire. The narrow streets originating in ancient times took shape even under the Roman conquerors. Therefore, Damascus is a city that carries its historical heritage to this day.
sights
One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the mosque of the ancient Umayyad dynasty. On its territory there is a building that stores hair from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad, which attracts pilgrims from all over the world. In addition, the mosque bears the title of the largest in the world.
In general, the city is rich in religious monuments. Here is the church of St. Anne, located underground; Takiya Al-Sulaymaniyah Mosque, which is considered the most beautiful mosque in the Arab world and many other attractions.
For lovers of the unusual, Bab-as-Sagyr cemetery, where the graves of famous personalities are located, will be especially interesting; Magarat ad-Damme cave in Qassiyun Mountain. According to legend, Cain committed the murder of his brother. Not far from the cave you can find the sarcophagus of the murdered Abel. The population of Damascus knows this legend very well and are ready to tell it to every tourist.
The National Museum of the city will be interesting for its exhibits, many of which have reached the modern world since ancient times. Here you can see the frescoes, the first examples of writing. The War Museum will showcase collections of a wide variety of weapons. Not only the modern world, but also the Middle Ages.
Of course, the famous markets of Damascus are worthy of visiting, where you can find wonderful samples of fabric, various types of weapons from the legendary Damascus steel, and much more.
In general, all of Syria, Damascus in particular, is riddled with history, a mystery of ancient times. Buildings, mosques, churches, the streets of the city themselves make it possible to call the capital one big attraction. It is not without reason that it does not occupy the last place on the UNESCO list as part of the great heritage of world culture.
How to get to Damascus from Moscow?
Damascus has one of Syria's largest airports of international importance. There is no time difference with Moscow near the capital of Syria. You can get to Damascus from the main center of Russia by direct flight. The straight line distance from Moscow is about 2.5 thousand km. Syrian International Airport is 26 km from the city. You can get to it by bus or by renting a car. Currently, it is quite easy to get to the capital of such a country as Syria. Damascus is worth a visit to its attractions!