Damascus city
The city of Damascus is considered the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic, and the center of the Damascus Governorate, and it is the oldest city in the world historically, as its first origins go back to about eleven thousand years, and it became the Syrian capital since the year 635 AD, and since then many nations and civilizations have rolled over this city that made it The focus of attention of many peoples of the world to this day.
Travelers and geographers referred to the distinguished location of this city since ancient times. Because of the abundance of its water due to the presence of many rivers and springs in it, in addition to its fertile soil and mild climate, which contributed to the development and prosperity of the city, and its population is about 1.949.000 people, according to 2013 statistics.
The origin of the name Damascus
There are different accounts about the origins of this name, as there are those who narrate that the name is derived from the Arabic word Damascus, which means if it hastens, and it was named by this name because its inhabitants hastened to build it, and there are historians who are likely to be the origins of the word Syriac or Latin, as it was derived from the word Domuscus, which means musk or a pleasant smell, and another narration says that it was named after the Greek leader Damas, who founded the city.
There were many names given to the city after the arrival of the Islamic conquests. It was known as Damascus the Levant, to distinguish it from the city of Granada in Andalusia, Damascus of the Arabs, Dhat al-Imad, Bab al-Kaaba, al-Fayhaa, Hisn al-Sham, and the tents of the Muslims.
Read also:Where is Sharm El Sheikh located?Damascus geographical location
The city of Damascus is located about eighty kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea, opposite the East Lebanon mountain range. It also sits on a plateau with a height of approximately 690 meters above sea level. Beirut is eighty-five kilometers away from it on the western side, and it is 180 km away from Amman. And from Jerusalem, a distance of 220 km from the southern side.
Damascus climate
The city has a dry to semi-arid continental climate, due to its location opposite the eastern Lebanon mountain range, and this prevents the effects of the Mediterranean Sea from reaching it, in addition to its openness to the Levantine desert from the eastern and southeastern part, which makes it more vulnerable to the influence of the desert climate. The temperature in the summer is about 40 degrees Celsius, and it drops in the winter until it reaches seven degrees Celsius.
Damascus archaeological and tourist attractions
- Markets: Syria is distinguished by its covered markets. Such as Al-Hamidiyah market, Medhat Pasha market, Al-Buzuriyya, and Al-Hariqa, in addition to markets specialized in a specific type of commodity; Like the shoe market that specializes in shoes.
- Places of worship: There are nearly two hundred mosques in the city; Among the most famous of them: the Umayyad Mosque, and thirty-six churches; The most important of which are: the Mariamian Church and the Olive Church.
- The role of culture: Among the most important of them is the Damascene theater, which was founded by Abu Khalil al-Qabbani in the nineteenth century, and it is the first ancient Arab theater. There are also many theaters; Such as: the Syrian Opera House located in the Umayyad Square, in addition to the Museum of Arabic Calligraphy, and the Syrian Military Museum.
