Damascus is said to be the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. A center of life from as early as 5000 BC. It was a meeting place of many different caravan routes, one of the great market places of history. It was mentioned in many cuniform tablets dating back to 3rd millennium BC. found in Mari and Ebla archives. Amorite (Semitic) settlement began around late 3rd millenium. It came into Egyptian sphere of influence and was mentioned in the Amarna archives 14C. BC. It went under Arameans, Assyrians, and Persians control before Alexander the Great compain in 333 BC. from the Greek rule till 7C AP. Damascus went under wave of western influence marked by the Greeks, Romans and the Byzantines. It became Islam’s first great capital under the Ummayyad Caliphs during 7-8C.

Old Damascus is surrounded by a wall and towers, in addition to eight gates, six of which are attributed to Roman times while the other two are Islamic.

Important sites in Damasus include:
The Ummayyad Mosque, one of the best preserved mosques in the world from 8C., famous for its golden mosaics and the head of John the Baptist.

Saint Ananias Church, and St. Paul Church where St. Paul was descended in a basket from the wall and left Damascus to Europe to preach Christianity.

There are many Damascene old houses, Hammams, Khans and historical schools dating back to the successive Islamic periods, worth visiting are the National Museum and Arabic Science and Medical Museum.

For travelers, Damascus offers countless opportunities for shopping in the souks and strolling the tree-lined streets of this fascinating old city.

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Maan Al-Sabbagh
Tour Guide-Trip Leader
Mobile phone:(00963)(0)93 252233
Telephone/Fax: (00963)-11-6714252
Email: maan@reuteronline.net