A Field Trip to the Damascus National Museum: A Window into Syria’s Ancient History
A Field Trip to the Damascus National Museum: A Window into Syria’s Ancient History
Today, the Faculty of Architecture organized a field trip to the Damascus National Museum, one of Syria’s most prominent cultural landmarks and a vital reference point for future generations to explore a history spanning thousands of years. This visit is an important step in enhancing students’ historical knowledge and developing their observation and analytical skills. It aims to instill in them the concept of cultural identity and national belonging.
Museums are pivotal cultural institutions that contribute to the preservation and documentation of human heritage, enabling current and future generations to recognize the importance of this heritage in shaping the identity of nations and peoples. From this perspective, the visit to the Damascus National Museum provided a valuable opportunity to introduce students to the importance of these museums as a living cultural reference point, reflecting the richness of Syrian history and enhancing their understanding of the various civilizations that have passed through this country.
The tour included the Ancient Antiquities Section, which includes statues and tools dating back to the civilizations of Ebla, Mari, and Ugarit, as well as displays of ancient writing systems such as the Ugaritic alphabet, one of the oldest in human history. The other section included Islamic art, displaying rare manuscripts and exquisite geometric decorations that reflect the development of Islamic civilization in the Levant.
One of the most prominent architectural elements that caught the students’ attention was the Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi Gate, a unique example of Umayyad architecture and the ingenious designs that characterized this era.
This visit provided an opportunity for the students to gain a deeper understanding of the succession of civilizations in Syria and the influence they had on one another, as well as how different cultures interacted and integrated over time. It also emphasized the importance of archaeological research in documenting history beyond oral narratives, and the crucial role of museums in preserving heritage and documenting historical moments that constitute an essential part of people’s identity.
