Syria Before The War #1 - A Culture Rich in its History

I've been very lucky to visit Syria before the war and terror started. I wanted to share a series of photos taken in Syria before the war to remind myself and everyone of a time when this country lived in peace and showcased its incredibly rich culture. Syria has been known as the ancient pearl and perhaps marks the beginning of civilization. Today part one.

All photography is original and mine. Note that the photos below were taken with one of my older cameras (ugh, before 2011) and are therefore of lower quality.

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The Citadel Of Aleppo

The citadel of Aleppo is believed to be one of the oldest and largest medieval palaces in the world. It has been occupied by the Byzantines, Greeks, Ayyubids and Mamluks. It became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986. Unfortunately, the shelling and bombing of the Syrian war severely damaged the structure.

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Ancient Ruins of Palmyra, Homs

Named one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world, these ancient ruins are located in the Syrian desert. During the Syrian Civil War, Palmyra came under the control of the Islamic State. In March 2017, the Syrian Army (with help of Russia) retook the city. Unfortunately, again, many artifacts and buildings had been destroyed by the Islamic State. A true wonder has to be rebuild...

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Roman Theatre at Bosra

One of the largest Roman structures to still exist, this large theatre (seating for c. 15,000 people) has been constructed with black basalt. It is one of the best preserved structure both in Syria and across the Roman empire. Substantial restoration took place between 1950 and 1970, which have further helped to protect the interior. Absolutely breathtaking structure. I heard it has been damaged by the war as well. Typing all of this makes me really sad.

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