Here are some amazing facts about Syria!
1. Syrians have a long history of immigrating to the United States. Celebrities with Syrian roots include Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Jobs, Paula Abdul and hockey player Brandon Saad. Did you know Steve Jobs’ biological father Abdulfattah John Jandal grew up in Homs, Syria?
2. Satellite images show that Syria became 83% darker at the night after the civil war began in 2011. This is partly because people are fleeing and partly because the infrastructure has completely collapsed.
3. Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war in 2011, life expectancy has fallen by 20 years.The Syrian civil war is the worst humanitarian crisis in the 21st century.
4. Damascus, the capital city of Syria, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It was first mentioned in an Egyptian document that dated from 1500 B.C., and carbon dating suggests the site has been occupied as far back as 6300 B.C.
5. The Shouting Valley is the meeting point of four countries: Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. It is an “echo point,” and people often use it to communicate with their relatives on the other side. Do check out these amazing facts about the Startup nation, Israel!
6. Beer has been Syrians’ favourite drink since ages. A historical reference to beer is found in the Ebla tablets, which date back to 2500 BC. Infact, in Syria, unlike most of the other countries, it’s the government which actually produces beer! There are two varieties of beer, Al-Shark Beer and Barada Beer, both produced by the state.
7. Legends have it that the first murder ever took place in Syria. Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, killed his brother, Abel, on Mount Qasioun, near Damascus.
8. The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is one of the oldest and most famous mosques in the world. It is also considered by many Muslims to be the 4th holiest place in the world.
9. Dura-Europos Church in Syria is likely to be the oldest Christian Church in existence. A team of French and American archaeologists excavated the site during 1920s and 1930s. Today however the place remains in ruins and not accessible as it is located in an ISIS occupied area.
10. There is a small town in Syria where Western Aramaic is spoken, which was the language spoken by Jesus Christ. Maaloula and two nearby villages are the only places on this planet to speak this ancient language.
So that was all for Syria. Do let us know how did you find these facts in the comments section below!
