Damascus is the capital of Syria and its second largest city, known for its ancient origins and rich history.
Mentions of the settlement date back to biblical times and even a little earlier. Until now, it has not been reliably established when exactly 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 it was its construction that became the first after the Flood. But historical information says that the earliest mentions of the city appear in the 15th century. BC e. Then it was in the possession of the Egyptian pharaohs and was called Dimashk. Since that time, Damascus has been called the center of trade and crafts.
Declaration of the capital and further fate
From the X c. BC e. the city acquires the status of the capital of the Damascus state of the Aramaic people. But after two centuries, Assyrian invaders conquer these lands. There are executions, defeats, and from that 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 goes to the Neo-Babylonian kingdom, and after it to the Persian conquerors.
It was after this event that students of secondary schools often asked the question:Damascus is the capital of which country? The exact answer can be found below.
After several centuries, the troops of Alexander the Great occupy the city. The Greeks, despite their militancy, are quite respectful of the buildings and inhabitants of the conquered area. It was at this time that Damascus was growing, the quality of roads and city buildings was improving. After the death of Alexander the Great, the empire was divided into many small possessions. And in 64 BC. e. conqueror Gnaeus Pompey joins the territory of the city to the Roman Empire. Syria becomes a province.
During this period, the capital of Damascus flourishes as a center of trade, as the most important trade routes pass through it. The Romans are trying in every way to protect the city from robbers and raiders. Why they build a wall with seven gates around it and bring an artificially created sleeve from the Barada River to Damascus. Since 395, after the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western, this territory goes to Byzantium and remains part of it 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. The warriors of the new rulers destroy and burn the Umayyad buildings, in addition, they destroy the walls built by the Romans.
Hard time in Damascus
From this moment on, a time of troubles begins for Damascus. Power is replaced by the Egyptian rulers, the conquering Turks, and the crusades do not bypass the ancientcity. In 1300, the Mongols conquered Damascus and brought death and destruction with them. In 1400, Tamerlane almost completely destroys the city and takes its best artisans and gunsmiths into captivity. From 1516, this territory became one of the parts of the Ottoman Empire and remained in its composition until the 19th 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 again returned to the status of the 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 area of the whole territory is 105 sq. km and a small part of the city is occupied by Mount Qasiyun. According to legend, it was in these places that Abel was killed. This fully explains the name of the city - Damascus, which in Aramaic means "brother's blood." Until 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 almost dry.
Climate
As for the weather, summers are usually dry and hot, but since the city rises 700 meters above sea level, it brings a life-giving coolness. In winter, the temperature can drop to +6 ° C and even snow is possible. July is considered the hottest month. And, it should be noted that even if the day was very warm, at night it will still bepretty cool.
Population and religion
The capital city 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 life in Damascus. Christianity and Islam coexist in this area. Most of the inhabitants of Damascus belong to the Sunni religion. Christians make up only about 10% of the population. In addition to the main religious areas in Damascus, there is a Jewish community.
Damascus is a city that is an important center of Syria
The capital of Syria is not only a historical center, but also, of course, industrial. Here, in addition to trade, originating in antiquity, the food and pharmacological industries are 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 and silver jewelry, carpets, fabrics. Legendary Damascus steel products continue to be of interest to visitors from around the world.
Tourism
People often wonder if Damascus is the capital of which country, because they have heard many positive stories about the culture of this city.
Recently, the development of tourism has been actively contributing to the economic recovery of Damascus. The city is rich in sights, historical monuments, and a variety of goods attractstravelers 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 love to relax with amenities.
Education
The capital Damascus is considered to be the educational center of Syria. Here is the largest and oldest of its universities, which opened its doors in 1903. In addition to the main educational institution of the country, 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
Because the history of Damascus is rich in raids and battles, the city is full of traces of destruction suffered in battle. 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 preserved in the wall attract many tourists. In addition, the entire layout of the old part of the city is considered the legacy of the Roman Empire. The narrow streets, which originated in ancient times, took shape even under the Roman conquerors. Therefore, Damascus is a city that carries its historical heritage to this day.
Attractions
One of the most famous sights of the city is the mosque of the ancient Umayyad dynasty. On its territory there is a building in which hair from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad is stored, which attracts pilgrims from all over the world. In addition, the mosque is the largest in the world.
In general, the city is rich in religious monuments. Here is the church of St. Anne, located underground; the mosque of Taqiya al-Suleimaniyya, which is considered the most beautiful mosque in the Arab world and many other attractions.
For lovers of the unusual, the Bab-as-Sagyr cemetery, where the burial places of famous personalities are located, will be especially interesting; Maharat ad-Damm cave in Mount Qasiyun. According to legend, Cain committed the murder of his brother here. Not far from the cave, you can also find the sarcophagus of the murdered Abel. The people of Damascus are well aware of this legend 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 come down to the modern world from ancient times. Here you can see the frescoes, the first examples of writing. The military museum will demonstrate 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 worth a visit, where you can find wonderful samples of fabric, various types of weapons made from the legendary Damascus steel and much more.
In general, the whole of Syria, Damascus in particular, is permeated with history, the 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 for nothing that it occupies not the last place in the UNESCO list as part of the great heritage of world culture.
How to get to Damascus from Moscow?
In Damascus there is one ofthe largest airports in Syria of international importance. The Syrian capital has no time difference with Moscow. You can get to Damascus from the main center of Russia by direct flight. The distance in a straight line from Moscow is about 2.5 thousand km. The Syrian International Airport is located 26 km from the city. You can get there by bus or by renting a car. It is now fairly easy to get to the capital of a country like Syria. Damascus is worth the visit!
