22 Amazing Syria Facts: Land of Ancient Civilizations

Syria, or the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia. Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan border it. It has deserts, high mountains, and also fertile plains. However, Syria is one of those countries suffering from long-term ongoing conflicts. 

Many interesting facts about this country may surprise you, such as being one of the oldest civilizations on Earth and one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

So, in this article, we will now discuss some amazing facts about Syria.

1. Several empires have ruled Syria

Syria is an ancient place, meaning many empires have ruled over this country throughout its history.

These include Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, and many others. So, visitors will see the influence of these empires in several parts of Syria as they roam this country.

Also, 1946 is a vital date for this country. It was the year when Syria gained independence. It was a part of the Ottoman Empire for about four centuries. Later, the French took over Syria until it finally gained its independence in 1946.

2. In Syria, people smoke a lot but do not drink too much

The Syrian people smoke a lot, which is the reason this nation is known for heavy smoking. The average person in this country smokes close to smoking 2300 cigarettes per year.

One reason behind this can be the continuous amount of stress that this country needs to go through due to conflict and war.

However, Syrian people don’t like drinking too much. They only consume less than 0.5 liters of alcohol per year. Drinking is not a popular thing throughout Syria.

3. Syria has struggled with stability

Since independence, this country has struggled with stability with different kinds of conflicts with its neighboring countries. In 1967, Israel continued to occupy an area of the Golan Heights following the Six-Day War.

Also, this country was officially under a state of emergency for about 48 years. The emergency law was lifted in 2011 following protests after it was introduced in 1962.

4. It is one of the nine most dangerous nations

Syria is one of the nine most dangerous countries in the globe as per the 2021 International SOS Travel Risk Map. It has been estimated as carrying an ‘extreme travel security risk.’

Also, this country has the lowest net migration on the planet, with a negative measurement of total migrants during a five-year period.

Moreover, according to the UK Foreign Office, this country is one of the 17 countries deemed completely unsafe for tourists.

5. One of the oldest civilizations

Syria is home to one of the oldest civilizations on the planet. Remains of humans have been found in the region dating back to around 700,000 years ago. Syria is a vital part of the Cradle of Civilization and is even popular as Fertile Crescent. Other places of this civilization are Turkey, Iraq, Iran, etc.

Also, the name of this country, Syria, comes from Assyria, which was an ancient kingdom in northern Mesopotamia, located at the center of one of the great empires of the ancient Middle East, now known as southeastern Turkey and Iraq.

6. The ancient language of Aramaic

The ancient language of Aramaic is spoken in Syria still today. During ancient years, Aramaic was the lingua franca across various civilizations, including Egypt and Greece. This language is spoken in small communities in Iran, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, and Armenia.

7. The Syrian Shawarma

Syrian Shawarma is a very popular street food in Syria with lots of French fries, vegetables, a spicy sauce, and a delicious taste that many visitors love to experience.

Due to the popularity of this Syrian dish, many people wish to try Syrian food in many parts of the world.

8. The flag of Syria

The flag of Syria is red, black, and white, horizontally striped with two green stars on the white-colored stripe. This flag is the same as the former flag of the United Arab Republic during the years 1958-1961.

The reason is during those years, Syria was a part of the short-lived union of Egypt and Syria called the United Arab Republic.

In this flag, the two stars represent the states of Egypt and Syria. The colors symbolize revolution (red), oppression (black), and a bright future (white).

9. The Umayyad Mosque 

There are many monuments in this country; one of them everyone must know about is the famous Umayyad Mosque. It is a stone mosque that has survived for many years, as it dates back to the 17^th century. Many people consider this mosque to be one of the holiest places to worship.

Moreover, in 2001, Pope John Paul II became the first-ever pope to enter a mosque when he visited this famous mosque in Damascus, which was built between 705 and 715.

10. The Jasmine City

Damascus, also known as ash-Sham in Syria, is the capital city of Syria. This city is also known as “Jasmine City.” Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the globe. Founded around the 3^rd Millennium BC, this city is also mentioned in the Book of Genesis of the Bible.

Also, the city of Damascus got its name from Damask, a specific kind of cotton rich in exquisite patterns.

11. There are only a few UNESCO-approved sites

UNESCO has approved only a few sites in this country that are rich in heritage and culture. These include Damascus, Palmyra, Aleppo, Bosra, and some ancient crusader castles of Crac des Chevaliers, Qalat Salah El-Din,and villages of Northern Syria.

Tourists want to visit some of these sites to learn more about their history and how it can influence modern-day traditions.

Moreover, during the Middle Ages, Aleppo was a significant trading post along the Silk Road, which was the ancient network of trade routes connecting China with the West.

12. At night, the Syrian sky gets darker

Since the Civil War in Syria broke out in 2011, satellite images showed that this country has got darker at night by about 83%.

This lack of lighting is caused by people fleeing the country and leaving behind their darkened houses, along with destroying buildings and power infrastructure, which has resulted in huge areas without electricity.

13. This country has been in turmoil for long

For over a decade, this country, Syria, has been a part of a conflict that ruined the country. Over 400,000 residents have lost their lives, and more than five million have been displaced. These people have taken shelter in different countries throughout the globe.

Also, gender equality is not maintained in Syria. It is ranked 4^th worst country in this area. So, Syria cannot be regarded as a progressive country.

14. The women’s land in Syria

In Syria, a village called Jinwar can be loosely translated to women’s land. This village is tiny, and just over thirty females and kids live there. These women became windows during the war in Syria, which is why they came to Jinwar to create their own sanctuary.

15. In Syria, there are various ethnic groups

This country is known for its cultural diversity; here, people may find all kinds of ethnic groups within the population. These include Ismaili, Armenian, Arabs, Levantine, Kurds, and many others. However, most people are followers of the Islamic religion in Syria.

16. The Shouting Valley

The Shouting Hill or Shouting Valley is a certain valley in Syria where the village of Ein al-Teinia is isolated from the Majdal al-Shams towns in the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel.

It is known as Shouting Valley because families used loudhailers to interact with their estranged relatives across the fenced-off and landmine gap.

Recently, the internet and mobile phones have ensured that they don’t need to shout to communicate. However, people are still remained separated from their families.

17. The Syrian conflict created many global issues

The recent Syrian conflict has resulted in many global issues. Europe has been hit by the worst migration crisis since World War II. The two significant global superpowers, the United States and Russia, are even moving towards another era of the cold war.

Also, present-day Syria has become a battleground of the entire world, with troops from almost 34 countries fighting a complex web of wars. Their actual enemy is the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq.

18. The worst humanitarian crisis

The worst humanitarian crisis since World War II is the Syrian refugee crisis. It affected about 14 million residents deeply, who were forced to flee or even encounter persecution from religious fanatics. 

According to the reports of the U.N., it will take $7.7 billion to meet all the urgent requirements of the most vulnerable Syrians in 2016.

19. Palmyra, the city with dripping history and culture

The Islamic State of the Levant deliberately destroyed Palmyra, a city rich in culture and history, because of its polytheistic statues. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a valuable gem of the ancient world. 

20. The Aleppo Codex and the Aleppo Citadel

An ancient Jewish manuscript, the Aleppo Codex, remained in Syria for almost five hundred years.

However, it was lost in 1947 during a riot but was later smuggled into Israel by a Syrian national. Now, only half the pages of this manuscript have remained.

Moreover, built in the year 3, BCE, the Aleppo Citadel in Syria, is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world. This citadel is also known as the mother of all citadels.

21. The steel of Syria

Syria’s capital is famous for its steel. The steel swords of Damascus were revered and feared by the Crusaders for their extremely sharp edges.

So, Syria is a unique country, rich in history, heritage, conflicts, and many more that can pique the interest of many tourists. 

At the end of this article, we have learned 21 fascinating facts about Syria, which offer us a clear picture of this unique country. To get some additional amazing facts, you can see our website.