List of World Heritage Sites in Syria

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Location of World Heritage Sites in Syria

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. [1] The Syrian Arab Republic accepted the convention on 13 August 1975, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list. As of 2016, six sites in Syria are included. [2]

Contents

The first site in Syria, Ancient City of Damascus, was inscribed on the list at the 3rd Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France in 1979. [3] Ancient City of Bosra and Site of Palmyra were inscribed the following year as the second and the third site, while Ancient City of Aleppo was added in 1986. [4] [5] Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din were added collectively to the list in 2006, followed by Ancient Villages of Northern Syria in 2011. [6] [7]

All six of Syria's properties have been placed on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger since 2013, as their integrity has been to varied degrees compromised following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War; Aleppo in particular has suffered extensive damage, while a number of prominent structures in Palmyra have been destroyed. [8] [9]

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural. [10]

  Dagger-14-plain.png In danger
World Heritage Sites
SiteImageLocation (governorate)Year listedUNESCO dataDescription
Ancient City of Aleppo Dagger-14-plain.png Ancient Aleppo from Citadel.jpg Aleppo 1986Cultural:
(iii)(iv)		Situated at the crossroads of several trade routes, Aleppo has been successively ruled, among others, by the Romans, Ayyubids, Mameluks and Ottomans, each leaving significant influence in its architectural fabric, resulting in a diverse cityscape. Major structures include the Citadel, the Great Mosque and the Madrasa Halawiye. [11]
Ancient City of Bosra Dagger-14-plain.png Bosra pano Syria.jpg Daraa 1980Cultural:
(i)(iii)(vi)		Formerly a Nabataean settlement, Bosra was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century CE and made capital of Arabia. It came under Islamic rule in the 7th century. Remains of the ancient city include a theatre, a basilica, a cathedral, a mosque and a madrasa, among others. [12]
Ancient City of Damascus Dagger-14-plain.png The Jupiter temple in Damascus.jpg Damascus 1979Cultural:
(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)		Established the 3rd millennium BCE, Damascus is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. As the capital of the Umayyads, it has been of significant influence to the Arab world. The Great Mosque is among the largest in the world and the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the beginnings of Islam. [13]
Ancient Villages of Northern Syria Dagger-14-plain.png Serjilla 01.jpg several sites2011Cultural:
(iii)(iv)(v)		The site comprises some 40 villages, dating from the 1st to 7th centuries and abandoned in the 8th to 10th centuries. They provide an insight into rural life in Late Antiquity and during the Byzantine period. [14]
Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din Dagger-14-plain.png Krak des Chevaliers 14.jpg Homs, Latakia 2006Cultural:
(ii)(iv)		The Crac des Chevaliers and the Qal'at Salah El-Din are regarded as two of the most prominent examples of castles during the Crusader period, demonstrating an evolution of fortifications and exchange of influences in defensive technology. [15]
Site of Palmyra Dagger-14-plain.png Palmyra 03.jpg Homs 1980Cultural:
(i)(ii)(iv)		Palmyra came under Roman rule in the 1st century CE, and grew to become one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. Its extensive ruins include remains of the Great Colonnade, the Temple of Bel, the Camp of Diocletian and the Roman Theatre. [16]

Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. [17] As of 2016, Syria lists twelve properties on its tentative list: [18]

  1. Norias of Hama
  2. Ugarit (Tell Shamra)
  3. Ebla (Tell Mardikh)
  4. Mari (Tell Hariri)
  5. Dura-Europos
  6. Apamea (Afamia)
  7. Desert Castle: Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi
  8. Ma'loula
  9. Tartus: The City-fortress of the Crusaders
  10. Raqqa-Rafiqah: The Abbasid City
  11. Island of Arwad
  12. Mari & Dura-Europos: Sites of Euphrates Valley


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krak des Chevaliers</span> Crusader castle near Homs, Syria

Krak des Chevaliers, Arabic: قلعة الحصن, romanized: Qalʿat al-Ḥiṣn also called Hisn al-Akrad and formerly Crac de l'Ospital; Krak des Chevaliers or Crac des Chevaliers, is a medieval castle in Syria and one of the most important preserved medieval castles in the world. The site was first inhabited in the 11th century by Kurdish troops garrisoned there by the Mirdasids. In 1142 it was given by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, to the order of the Knights Hospitaller. It remained in their possession until it fell in 1271.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahyun Castle</span> Medieval castle in northwestern Syria

Sahyun Castle, also known as the Castle of Saladin, is a medieval castle in northwestern Syria. It is located 7 km east of Al-Haffah town and 30 km east of the city of Latakia, in high mountainous terrain on a ridge between two deep ravines and surrounded by forest, the site has been fortified since at least the mid 10th century. In 975 the Byzantine Emperor John I Tzimiskes captured the site and it remained under Byzantine control until around 1108. Early in the 12th century the Franks assumed control of the site and it was part of the newly formed Crusader state of the Principality of Antioch. The Crusaders undertook an extensive building programme, giving the castle much of its current appearance. In 1188 it fell to the forces of Saladin after a three-day siege. The castle was again besieged in 1287, this time both defender and belligerent were Mamluks. In 2006, the castles of Qal'at Salah El-Din and Krak des Chevaliers were recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The site is owned by the Syrian government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marmarita</span> Village in Homs, Syria

Marmarita is a village in northwestern Syria, located west of Homs. Marmarita is one of the largest villages in Wadi al-Nasara, a region north of Talkalakh. In 2004, Marmarita had a population of 2,206, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Its inhabitants are predominantly Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic Christians and is one of the largest Christian villages in the Wadi al-Nasara. Marmarita is a popular summer destination and tourist attraction in Syria. The village has been part of the Homs Governorate since 1953; prior to that, it was part of the Latakia Governorate. The village has three Greek Orthodox Church, a Greek Catholic Church and a Protestant Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Museum of Damascus</span>

The National Museum of Damascus is a museum in the heart of Damascus, Syria. As the country's national museum as well as its largest, this museum covers the entire range of Syrian history over a span of over 11 millennia. It displays various important artifacts, relics and major finds most notably from Mari, Ebla and Ugarit, three of Syria's most important ancient archaeological sites. Established in 1919, during King Faisal's Arab Kingdom of Syria, the museum is the oldest cultural heritage institution in Syria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient City of Bosra</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bosra, Syria

The Ancient City of Bosra is an archaeological site located in the city of Bosra, Syria. The site illustrates the Roman, Byzantine and Muslim civilizations, and is inscribed by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Syria</span>

Although Syria has some of the oldest cities in Western Asia, such as Damascus and Aleppo, tourism in Syria has greatly reduced as a result of the Syrian War, that began in 2011 and is ongoing, and its associated refugee crisis. Tourism has been further impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19 starting in March 2020. The international economic sanctions imposed on Syria and the sharp drop in the value of the Syrian pound also adversely impact tourism in Syria. The Ministry of Tourism is the responsible government department.

References

  1. ↑ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Syria". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Report of the 3rd Session of the Committee". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Report of the 4th Session of the Committee". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Report of the 10th Session of the Committee". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "Decision: 30 COM 8B.38". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Decision: 35 COM 8B.23". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "State of Conservation (SOC 2013) Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab Republic)". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "State of Conservation (SOC 2016) Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic)". UNESCO. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre – The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ancient City of Aleppo". UNESCO . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Ancient City of Bosra". UNESCO . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "Ancient City of Damascus". UNESCO . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  14. ↑ "Ancient Villages of Northern Syria". UNESCO . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  15. ↑ "Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din". UNESCO . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Site of Palmyra". UNESCO . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  17. ↑ "Tentative Lists". UNESCO . Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  18. ↑ "Tentative List – Syria". UNESCO . Retrieved 9 August 2016.
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