Reading levelSprouts (4–6)Explorers (7–9)Scholars (13+)Read it in the Kids' Wing

Damascus is the historic capital of Syria, home to the Great Umayyad Mosque with golden mosaics and historic markets.

Damascus is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited capitals in the world and a historic center in the Levant. It served as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate for a century, graced by the Great Umayyad Mosque built by Caliph al-Walid I with golden mosaics, and celebrated for the orchards of the Ghouta, colleges, and libraries.

Storytellers (10–12) read the Explorers text, then cross to the Scholars text.

The premier metropolis of the Levant and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, nestled beneath Mount Qasiyun along the Barada River oasis. Liberated in 14 AH (635 CE) under Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) through commanders Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah (may God be pleased with him) and Khalid ibn al-Walid (may God be pleased with him), it served as the imperial capital of the Umayyad Caliphate (41–132 AH / 661–750 CE). Anchored by the monumental Umayyad Mosque built under Caliph al-Walid I with Byzantine glass mosaics, Damascus regained strategic leadership during the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras, housing prestigious madrasas and producing seminal scholars such as Ibn Asakir, al-Nawawi, and Ibn Kathir.

Overview

A Syrian city, the capital of the Umayyad caliphate (661–750 CE), and home to the Umayyad Mosque.

Location

Its approximate coordinates are 33.5102 N and 36.2913 E ¹.

In the museum

The museum's material on this place includes: people who died here: 3, people who lived here: 4, polities of which it was the capital: 2.

People who died here

People who lived here

Polities of which it was the capital

The Umayyad Caliphate (661 CE)
The Zengid dynasty (1127 CE)

What this page covers

This page gathers what the museum links to the place: events, people and buildings. It is not a full historical account of the place; a description of the place and its history from original sources will be added in later batches.

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Damascus

At a glance

On screen

Overview

Location

In the museum

People who died here

People who lived here

Polities of which it was the capital

What this page covers

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Place

al-Malik al-Adil Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr ibn Ayyub