Archives 1:

Going back to my roots. A picture post with a few facts on the side. enjoy.



Welcome to Damascus!!
The oldest living capital in the world.

Which gate would you like to enter?
because there are 8 (and maybe some more) ;)

The Eastern Gate (Bab Sharki)

It was named according to its location in the east side
of the city, it has three carved arcs.
The Muslim Warrior "Khaled Ben al-Waleed"
entered Damascus through this gate in the Rashedi Era.

Peace Gate (Bab Al-Salam)


Thomas Gate (Bab Tooma)

It is locacted in the north of Damascus.
It was named after a famous Old Roman Leader,
his name is Thomas.

The Paradise Gate (Bab Al-Faradees / Bab Al-Amara)

One of the northern gates;
it was named the paradise gate
in the Roman age because there
were plenty of water and gardens
which used to surround the gate.
The other name , Bab Al Amara,
refers to a name of a famous building
where people used to meet in the 14th century.

The Small Gate (Bab Al-Sgheer)

It is located in the southern side of the city.
It had this name because it was the smallest gate.
A graveyard was erected near this gate;
it holds some graves of
Companions of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),
and some Umayyad caliphs.


Al-Faraj Gate (Al-Manakhliah)


It is situated in the northern side of the city.
It consists of a geminate gate which had two functions;
the first was economic
and the second was to mislead the enemies attacking the city.

Al-Jabieh Gate

It is situated in the west of the city
along the same line of the eastern gate,
and they both have a similar design.
It has this name because residents of the
Jabieh village used to pass through this gate.

and the last gate that once gave passage to Damascus would be....

The Victory Gate (Bab Al-Nasr)
It is at the beginning of souk Al-Hamideya, and was destroyed in the Ottoman Era.

I am posting these archives posts because im trying to motivate myself to go to Syria this summer, I haven't gone in a few years and I'd like to see it as it is, for you never know what the future may foretell.
and if I do go, im trying to figure out which gate to enter from :P
Wish me luck!

-thanks to oldamascus.com