Syria From Raas Kettan

Al Marqab Castle

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:55:27 +0000

Al Marqab Castle

Only 6 Km from Banias, this magnificent castle sits on the side of an extinct volcano, over watching the sea. Called Qalaat Al Marqab in Arabic it means Castle of the watchtower. This is where Richard the Lionheart landed at the beginning of the third crusade.

Founded in 1062 by the Muslim Arabs it was then taken over by the Byzantines then somehow passed into the hands of the principality of Antioch at an unknown date. It was then sold to the Hospitallers in 1186 and was rebuilt to the latest Frankish military standards of architecture and used by the crusaders until it fell into the hands of Sultan Qalaun in 1285, after only 5 weeks of battle.

The most important aspects and features of this fortress, are the keep and the chapel. The round keep is a massive tower of strength, and at a diameter of nearly 29 meters and walls of 5 meters thick it is quite typical of 12th century Hospitallers work. From the top magnificent views of the mountains and the coast can be seen, not to mention the beautiful view of the Mediterranean.

As for the chapel, it is entered by two entrances one from the north and the other from the west (up some steps). This chapel, also built in the 12th century is a magnificent example of Gothic art, with traces of Romanesque. Although this chapel is relatively small the fact that there are no aisles makes it quite spacious, this is typical of Gothic art. There are three pointed arches, one decorated in black and white, one undecorated but supported with Corinthian capitalized columns. The rounded apse is two steps higher than the rest of the chapel, and there are two small rooms behind it. The chapel is beautiful in its simplicity.

Arwad

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:23:06 +0000

Arwad

The small island of Arwad, off the coast of Tartous, can be visited by a regular boat-ride service. Only 3 Km away, it only takes 20 minutes to get there.

Arwad, or Arvad to the Phoenicians and Aradus to the Greeks and Romans, was first used for urban settlement by the Canaanites. It was conquered by all those who conquered Syria and was always heavily reliant on trade. But when it was annexed to Tartous by the Romans in 64 BC, trade declined and its wealth dropped as its importance to trade diminished. St Paul is said to have stopped here for a visit on his way to Rome. It fell to the Arabs in 640, and it was where the Crusaders and the Templars made their last stop after being defeated at the mainland castles.

There are two small castles on the island; the one in the middle is the remains of the Crusader fort, which was built in the 13th century. The other, on the port side is an Arab castle and has now been turned into a museum. Also to be seen are the remains of the Phoenician wall, although some parts of it have been used for housing. This island is often visited by tourists and is quite popular for the locals who might visit for lunch in one of the many fish restaurants.

Historical Sites of Tartous

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:16:41 +0000

Historical Sites of Tartous
Found in this old crusader port are the remains of a fortress and the cathedral ‘Our Lady of Tortosa’.

The fortress or keep in which the Templars locked themselves, when Saladin attacked, can be found at the south end of the old sea wall which the crusaders built. There is another inner citadel wall, which used to extend eastwards and then back southwards returning to the sea wall, although not much of this remains. However inside these walls are a banqueting hall and a chapel, which are still recognizable.

There is another outer citadel wall and a third city wall, which can be followed before arriving to the cathedral that is also being used as a museum. After being used as a stable, and a mosque and Ottoman barracks the French renovated it and used it as a museum. This cathedral is by far the greatest show of religious crusader buildings in Syria.

As you enter you can see that the Cathedral also had defensive purposes, through the corner towers. It is a simple Basilica in plan, with three aisles. Each aisle has four bays and an apse at its end; this represents the transition from the Romanesque to Gothic. There are massive arches with acanthus-topped columns. At the top end of the North aisle there is a headless bird thought to represent the third party of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

The museum section of the cathedral has a collection of objects ranging from the classical to the Arab periods. Mostly Syro-Phoenician and Greek artifacts, Roman glass, and funerary objects

History of Tartous

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:37:22 +0000

History of Tartous
Not much remains of the Phoenician Antaradus (Anti-Aradus – the town facing Arwad), the mainland settlement that was linked to the more important and larger settlement in Arwad.

This town was favored by Constantine for its devotion to the cult of the Virgin. The first chapel to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary is said to have been built here in the 3rd century. Two centuries later an earthquake hit the chapel and the altar was miraculously saved. This miracle was further enhanced by an icon of the Virgin believed to be painted by St. Luke resembling the one in Seidnaya. The church ‘Our Lady of Tortosa’ was built upon this miracle by the Crusaders in 1123. It now houses this altar and has received many pilgrims.

Nur Al Din occupied for a brief time and then it was recaptured by the Crusaders. Tartous was placed under the control of the Templars who rebuilt and redeveloped its defenses. It was then recaptured by Saladin in 1188, whence the Templars locked themselves into the keep. However it was rebuilt and remained under Templar control until 1291. Tartous was the last stand the Templars had on the mainland of Syria departing to Arwad, which they kept for another decade.

It was of little use to most, including the Ottomans and the French, however in recent decades it has quickly developed into Syria’s second port. As for the Cathedral it was used as a mosque for a while then as a barracks for the Ottomans. It was renovated under the French and turned into a museum

History of Syria

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:30:14 +0000

History of Syria
Often called the Cradle of Civilization and the Gateway to History, Syria has a lot to offer history and the development of civilized man. On the other hand Syria’s natural boundaries did nothing for the security of the land… its strategic location also made it vulnerable and many conquerors and attackers were able to conquer Syria. It has been a great crossroad for trade between the Mediterranean and the East; it exported the Alphabet to the West, and has been linked to Religion from the beginning, from the Semitic Deities to the monotheistic faiths.

Settling, Agriculture and the Beginning of civilization 9000BC:
This is where civilization began. The development of agriculture in Syria meant settled communities. Tribes and peoples began to prefer agriculture to hunting and with the appearance of bronze and copper tools, agriculture developed quickly. Along with the development in agriculture came a development in trade, as urbanized communities began to engage in various economic activities.

Ebla, Mari and the Bronze Age:
3000 – 2000BC:
The Great Kingdoms of Ebla and Mari belong to this era. These kingdoms are the sites of where the invention of writing began. Found in both are tablets of Cuneiform writing (wedge shaped syllables), the royal archives have been a source of controversy due to its links with the Old Testament Ebla, as for Mari 17000 tablets were found. These kingdoms lasted about 1000 years due to their cultural development, their rising trade with both Mesopotamia (the land between the Euphrates and the Tigris) and the Mediterranean, and due to the irrigation of the Euphrates. Both of these kingdoms were taken over by the Akkadians from Mesopotamia and then by the Amorites at the end of this period. The Akkadians were the source of Semitic language that became the basis for the Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic languages.

2000 – 1600BC:
The recovery of trade in this area took a while. Yamkhad the Amorite kingdom in Aleppo had taken over Ebla… and trade began to gradually flourish. However Hammurabi ruler of Babylon, destroyed Mari.

1600 – 1200BC:
The Hittites from Anatolia and the Egyptians fought heavily for this land… but gradually the Hittites took over more and more of Syria, as Egypt was distracted due to religious havoc at home. This period also saw the rise of Ugarit where the first Alphabet was established and then taken over to ancient Greece by the Mycenaeans. This is also about the time when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and settled in Palestine.

The Hittites and the Arameans 1200 – 539BC:
A lot happened in this period… the most important was that of the Sea Peoples, a barbaric people who came from several lands around the Aegean Sea. They took over from the Hittites and Ugarit. At Ugarit, a message being sent before their arrival was found in the ruins. At the same time the Phoenicians were getting stronger and were establishing colonies around the Mediterranean. Later on the Arameans began to move across Syria to the North… their language was spoken by Jesus nearly 1000 years later, and is now still spoken in the village of Maaloula.

In about 800 BC the Assyrian Empire rose to power and for nearly 2 centuries they administered Syria and Lebanon. In 612 BC it fell to Babylonia land of the famous hanging gardens, at its capital Nineveh.

The Persians 539 – 333BC:
In this period Persia conquered Babylonia and took over the Middle East. Their colonies and provinces were well defended, governed and administered, and were all linked through an efficient network of roads. Persia fell at the end of this period to the Greeks.

Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Empire 333 – 64BC:
The defeat of Darius by the great leader Alexander of Macedonia was the beginning of Western rule over Syria. The Hellenistic Empire combined both Western and Eastern cultures but with a predominantly Greek system and outlook. After Alexander’s death, Greater Syria was divided into two empires one under Ptolemy, the other under Seleucus. Contemporary Syria was under the Seleucids. The Seleucids built Apamea as their Military base using Latakia as their main port. They also built the fortress of Doura Europos. All these cities were built under Greek architectural design and planning. At the end of this period came the Arab Nabateans from the south taking over Damascus and Bosra, while the Romans came from the north.

The Romans and Zenobia 64BC to 395AD:
Although the south was kept under Nabatean control, most of Syria was brought under control by the Romans and their leader Pompey. Under Rome, Syria’s cultivation and civilization greatly developed and with the well organized new road network; trade was able to prosper greatly. It was around this time that the great empire of Palmyra flourished under the leadership of Queen Zenobia. She conquered most of Egypt and Asia Minor but was defeated by the Romans in 272AD. Through out this time Christianity was spreading aggressively through the Empire. In 324AD Constantine the Great took over from Diocletian, and named Constantinople (Istanbul) as his capital. Under Constantine, a converted Christian, Christianity began to flourish under imperial patronage…and the Emperor Theodosius I named Christianity the official language of the Roman Empire. This change of religion and the moving of the Roman capital from Rome to Constantinople were the beginning of a new empire…

The Byzantine Empire 395-632AD:
The Byzantine Empire, a mixture of Greek culture and Christianity began with the death of Theodosius, when Rome was divided between East and West. There are many ruins and dead cities in the North of Syria that reflect the strength and architectural genius of these Romans. Among the greatest is the Basilica of St Simeon the Stylite who stood atop a pillar to pray for 38 years. The Basilica was built around this pillar and it was a regular place for pilgrims. Justinian was by far the greatest of the Roman empires during this period, he won back a lot of the lost land of the former Roman empire and it was he who held off the Sassanians (from Persia) at Resafa and Halabiye. However in 632 the new Islamic faith fighters took over Syria from the Emperor Heraclius.

Islam:
The Rashedeen Caliphate 632-661AD:
After the death of the prophet Muhammad, the Arab fighters began to spread Islam through battles and faith preaching. Under the Caliph Omar Bin Al Khattab, Syria was taken over form the Byzantines, in 636 the Muslims fought against the Byzantines in the battle of Yarmuk (on the river Yarmuk).

The Umayyad Period 661 – 750AD:
Muawiya former governor of Syria, fought with the Caliph Ali Bin Abi Talib along the Euphrates, and in 661 when Caliph Ali was assassinated he took over and made Damascus capital of the Umayyad territory. Damascus became the capital of a land extending from Spain in Andalusia to the Indus River in India. The Umayyads showed tolerance of the Christian faith and were very encouraging of education and the sciences. In 750AD Damascus was taken over by Abu Al Abbas who founded the Abbasid Dynasty in Baghdad.

Syria under the Abbasids 750 – 1199AD:
Syria, was neglected greatly under the Abbasid Dynasty, this is reflected by the lack of Abbasid architecture in Syria, which is only evident in Raqqa. After the reign of Harun Al Rashid, the Fatimids in 978AD took over the South and Damascus, while Aleppo was ruled by the Hamdanids in the 10th and 11th Centuries. The Fatimids under the leadership of Caliph Hakim began to demolish churches in the Holy Land. This coupled with the appeal for help by the Byzantines against the Seljuks prompted the next phase of Syria… the Crusades.

The Crusaders and the Ayyubids 1098 – 1250:
Arriving to Syria in 1098, under Raymond de Saint Gilles, Count of Toulouse, they took the route via the Orontes Valley (upper) then through Hama and Sheizar to the site that is now Krak Des Chevaliers. In December 1098 they massacred the Male population of Maarat Al Numan. When Edessa, a Latin enclave, fell to Zengi (a Muslim leader)… a second crusade arrived from France and Germany. However they were unable to recapture Edessa and they couldn’t capture Damascus either. This dampened European enthusiasm. Saladin, was very influential in the defeat of the Crusaders. He managed to recapture Jerusalem, Acre, Sidon, and Beirut all in 1187. He also had many battles against the leader of the third crusade, Richard the Lionheart.

The Mamelukes 1250 – 1516:
This period was not very positive for the Syria and the Syrians. Eight years after the Burgi Mamelukes took power (from their capital in Cairo), saw the attack of the Mongols who destroyed everything in their way. Under Baybars the Mameluke commander, the Mongols were defeated and the Krak, Safita, and Latakia were all taken back from the Crusaders (1271 – 1289). In 1291 Tartous was taken back by his successor Sultan Khalil. 1302, when the Crusade garrison in Arwad was taken back, saw the end of the Crusader venture in the Middle East. A second group of Mamelukes, the Burgis, took power in 1382. It took decades of rivalries between them and their predecessors the Bahris before they took power. This undermined their defense and in 1400 Damascus was hit by its biggest attacker yet, Tamerlane. He destroyed most of Syria and with the rerouting of European trade around Africa, Syria’s trade dropped.

The Ottoman Empire 1516-1918:
In 1516 Sultan Selim I, who defeated the Mamelukes in North Aleppo, conquered Syria. He later went on to claim himself as the Caliph. It was under his successor Suleyman the magnificent, that the Tekkiye Mosque complex was built in Damascus. The Ottomans built many Khans in the souks of both Aleppo and Damascus. Damascus, which was the last stop for pilgrims bound towards Mecca, had many great Khans and souks built for this cause. Aleppo’s great Khans on the other hand were built for the European Merchants after trade was opened up to Europe. Aleppo once again became the leading city of the Middle East for East-West trade. Under Ibrahim Pasha, the Son of Muhammad Ali, Damascus became the centralized government of Syria. Ibrahim Pasha captured Damascus in 1832 and founded schools, reorganized the judicial system, reformed the taxation policies and encouraged education. He also put the Christians and Jews on equal footing with the Muslims. During the First World War the Ottomans massacred between 1 and 2 Million Armenians, some in the Turkish run Belsen in Deir Ezzor. T.E. Lawrence and the Arabs, who revolted against the Turks, arrived to Damascus led by the forces of Emir Feisal, son of Hussein, the Sherif of Mecca in 1918.

Syria under the French Mandate:
In 1918 a parliamentary government was established in Damascus and in 1920 the Emir Feisal, was declared King of Syria. Syria at this point of time was geographically defined by the natural boundaries, beginning at the Taurus mountains in Turkey to Sinai in the South. The Arabs thought Syria would be a self-governing country, or so it was explained by the British. The secret Sykes-Picot agreement however would put a stop to this. This agreement which was set up in 1916 was put into action after the San Remo meeting. Syria was divided into 4 parts, and shared by Britain and France. Current day Syria and Lebanon went to the French, while Palestine and Jordan would go to the British. King Feisal was made King of Iraq.

Syria was then divided by the French into the separate provinces or states of Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, and the Hauran. Aleppo was later brought into the state of Syria whose capital was Damascus. In 1925, the Druze population in the Hauran revolted and moved towards the capital, which prompted the heavy bombardment of Damascus by the French. In 1939 the state of Iskanderoun was given to the Turks in order to keep them neutral during the second world war. In 1942 Hauran and Latakia were incorporated into the Syrian state. In 1945 Syria gained independence and in 1946 the last of the French were seen.

The Final Chapter:
With most of the Arab states gaining their independence around this time, Arab unity was revived. Syria entered several agreements, namely forming with Egypt in 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In 1962 however it dissolved and in 1963 the Syrian Baath Party took control.

Islam in Syria

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:26:10 +0000

Islam

Religion is an important part of any Syrian, whether Muslim or Christian. Muslims in Syria are over 80%, and most Syrian Muslims follow the teachings of their religion quite whole heartedly.

Islam, the third Monotheistic religion, was started by the Prophet Muhammad, a descendant of a long line of prophets, including Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and David (Peace be upon them). Muhammad (P), had through the Angel Gabriel the revelation of the Koran, the word of Allah (The word ‘Allah’ translates into ‘The GOD’). Islam spread like a field on fire, and was soon taken as the main religion of Syria.

The five most important rites of Islam come under the name the ‘Five Pillars of Faith’. These constitute the Prayer (Salat) which is five time a day, Fasting (Siyam) throughout the month of Ramadan (abstaining from food or drink from dawn till dusk), and Charity (Zakat) must be given at a certain percentage of annual revenue. The fourth is the Proclamation of faith (Al Shahadeh) which is ‘I believe that there is no God but Allah (The GOD), and that Muhammad is God’s messenger’. The final one, is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (Al Hajj) at least once in your life (if you are healthily and financially able to).

There is an ablution ritual that Muslims must perform before prayer. This (Al Wudu’) is the cleaning of the hands, mouth, nose, and face three times with running water, then the washing of both arms to the elbows (starting with the right), also three times. This is followed by cleaning the ears and behind the ears, followed by the top of the head, and then both feet (also 3 times starting with the right).

The Muezzin’s ‘call to prayer’ from Syria’s many mosques will be heard five times a day. At dawn, noon, early afternoon, dusk, and at night (which is accomplished between dusk and the dawn of the new day). Many Muslim’s leave in the middle of their work to go and pray in the mosque with fellow Muslims. While others tend to pray at home or at work, on a prayer mat (carpet).

Christianity in Syria

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:24:03 +0000

Christianity in Syria
Contrary to general thought, Christianity has quite a strong presence in Syria. Ever since its early years, Christianity has had its roots in Syria.

Damascus is where St. Paul escaped from the Jews by being dropped through a window in a basket in the Via Recta. St. John the Baptist’s head is said to be located in the Umayyad Mosque, which used to be a church. St. Simeon the Stylite lived on a pillar for about 40 years to get closer to God. Last but not least the villagers in Maaloula still speak Aramean, the language of Jesus (P).

There are several Christian communities, who on a whole constitute approx. 8% of the Syrian population. Christianity in Syria is divided into three parts. Catholic Churches, Orthodox Churches, and the Protestants. The Catholic Churches are divided into the following: Greek Catholics, Syrian Catholics, Armenian Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, Maronite Catholics, and Latin Catholics. All have their own Patriarch, although the highest position is the Pope in the Vatican. The Orthodox Churches are divided into Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, and Armenian Orthodox. These Churches also have their own patriarchs although the Armenians are under the guidance of a Patriarch in Armenia. Protestants are few and are under the guidance of a Thinodus (A level of Priesthood).

Many Christians live in the villages of Maaloula, Seidnaya, Safita, and Marmarita. Aleppo, where approximately 10% of the population is Christian, has a large number of Armenians, who fled from Armenia in the days of the Ottoman Empire when they were persecuted and massacred. Between 1 and 2 million died.

Christianity in Syria is strongly recognized and National holidays include Christmas, New Years day, and Easter. The Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on the 6th of January. As for Easter it is celebrated on two different dates, the customary Western date (celebrated by the Catholic Churches, Protestants and Armenian Orthodox), the other date is celebrated by the Syrian and Greek Orthodox.

Workshop on Tourism Between Syria and Spain

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:10:21 +0000

Workshop on Tourism Between Syria and Spain

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 – 10:45 AM

Damascus (SANA)

The tourist workshop, which was organized by the Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with the Federation of Syrian Chamber of Tourism, Syrian Arab Airlines Institution and Spanish language magazine “Syria Magazine” among Syrian and Spanish travel agencies yesterday, focused on mutual cooperation and exchanging information and points of view in the field of tourism.

In his opening address, Minister of Tourism Dr. Saadalla Agha al-Kalaa said that the standing relations between Syria and Spain werespecial and the two countries and peoples are strongly tied, indicating that Syria has the needed tourist elements to be one of the attractive countries for tourist groups.

He called for real partnership between Syria and Spain in the tourist field due to the fact that Syria is a hospitable country.

Following the opening session, owners of Syrian and Spanish offices of tourism held meetings and discussed means of exchanging tourist groups.

Khaleda/ Idelbi.

Head of Turkish Municipality of Urfa: Palmyra is One of the Best Ancient Cities

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:08:40 +0000

Head of Turkish Municipality of Urfa: Palmyra is One of the Best Ancient Cities

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 – 10:55 AM

Palmyra (SANA)

Head of Turkish Municipality of Urfa Mustafa Ciftji has described Palmyra as one of the best historical cities in the world.

Ciftji, who visited the ancient city of Palmyra with a delegation of mayors of a number of Turkish cities, said that this visit aimed at enhancing the special historical relations between Syrian and Turkish peoples.

For his part, Mayor of ancient Turkish Medit city al-Sayed Nacati stressed that Syria has attractive tourist sites.

He considered his visit to Palmyra an opportunity to get acquainted with this important cultural heritage.

The delegation underlined the importance of investing Palmyra for tourism.

Khaleda/ Idelbi.

Summer resorts and historical spots

إدارة موقع رأس كتان — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:09:53 +0000

Summer resorts and historical spots

The Syrian seashore is about 175 km long, and its numerous beaches are distinguished by soft sand, unpolluted sea, moderate climate and clear blue sky.

The coastal summer resorts in Syria are numerous. Scattered on the hills and mountains near the sea, they boast fresh air, cool weather in summer and moderate weather in winter.

Some of these summer resorts are:

Slenfeh
Kasab
Salma
Draykish
Misyaf
Wadi al-Oyyun
Safita