Syria Photo Guide

Just a friendly reminder that Lens on Syria is now available for purchase! This beautiful photography book features a collection of over four hundred of my best images from Syria, and is affordably priced at only USD $29.99 for paperback and USD $49.99 for hardcover. The 304-page book is organized by geographic region into seven chapters, covering Syria's wide range of historic sites and cultural heritage. It includes a wonderful foreword by Professor Joshua Landis.

Here are some of the kind comments we've received for the book:

"Daniel has a wonderful eye for the people, the landscapes and for the beauty of [Syria's] extraordinary range of historic buildings. It is important that all who knew Syria before 2011 keep alive the memory of a society whose interwoven pattern of faiths, ethnicities and cultures is now threatened." - Ross Burns, author Monuments of Syria

"Daniel Demeter's photos make up one of the most important recent collections of photographs concerning the cultural heritage in Syria. These pictures reflect his love and knowledge of Syria and its heritage as well as perfection of photography." - Dr. Abdalrazzaq Moaz, former Director-General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria

"What a celebration of life in Syria as it once was! Daniel Demeter takes us on a fascinating visual tour of Syria as it was before the war, following his years there in 2006-9. Every minor detail of people and their cultural heritage comes to life in this rich photography." - Dr. Alastair Northedge, Professor of Islamic Art and Archaeology, Université de Paris

"Smells, colors, sounds and deep-time history of Syria jump from the pages of Demeter’s book in a mosaic of past and present and tell the breathtaking layered human story of a region whose multicultural identity and heritage are persistently being endangered by current violent conflict." - Dr. Layma Khalidi, French National Center for Scientific Research

For those of you who have purchased or seen the book, your feedback would be much appreciated!

More information: http://lensonsyria.com/
http://justworldbooks.com/lens-on-syria/

Aleppo - al-Fardous Mosque / حلب - جامع الفردوس

One of the most recognizable structures in the ancient city of Palmyra (تدمر) is the remarkable monumental arch (قوس النصر). Also known as the triumphal arch or victory arch, it was constructed during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193 to 211. Despite being built more than a half century after Hadrian’s visit to the city, the monument is often erroneously referred to as Hadrian’s arch. It was restored in the 1930s.

The arch is particularly impressive from an architectural standpoint, addressing a problem somewhat unique to Palmyra (تدمر). The layout of this ancient city was unusual for the Roman period, as its main streets did not align with the four cardinal points of the compass. The monumental arch (قوس النصر) was constructed at the point of a thirty-degree turn in the main colonnade between the tetrapylon (التترابيل) and the Temple of Bel (معبد بل). To solve this problem, the arch incorporated two façades angled apart from one another. Only one of the original arched façades survive, but the overall design is still easy to appreciate. The arch is richly decorated with stone carvings, one of the most lavishly adorned monuments in the city.

Surrounding the ancient city of Palmyra (تدمر) is a vast necropolis (مدافن) featuring hundreds of Roman-era tombs, one of the most fascinating aspects of the site to explore. The most remarkable tombs, often constructed for the most prominent residents of the city, feature impressive architecture and detailed funerary art. The wealth and prosperity of this caravan city is reflected in the high quality craftsmanship devoted to these funerary chambers, which were typically shared by entire families.

Several different architectural styles are represented in the tombs of Palmyra (تدمر). Tower tombs were developed earliest, often featuring several floors of burial chambers. The burial compartment of each individual would customarily be faced with a carved limestone relief of their portrait, most of which have either been destroyed over the centuries or relocated to museums. These tower tombs date no later than 128 CE, and are found mostly west and southwest of the ancient city. In later periods, tower tombs were abandoned in favor of underground burial chambers, or hypogeum. These date between 81 CE and 251 CE and are found primarily to the south of the ancient city.

The western necropolis, often referred to as the Valley of the Tombs, is located in a desert valley that extends roughly one kilometer west-southwest of the acropolis. It is here that most of the tower tombs are found, several of which are particularly impressive and well-preserved. Some underground tombs are also located in this area, but the most remarkable, the Hypogeum of Yarhai, has been relocated to the National Museum (المتحف الوطني) in Damascus (دمشق). Other noteworthy hypogea are located south and southeast of the acropolis. These underground tombs are kept locked, however, and access needs to be coordinated with officials at the museum.