What is Damascus?

It should be noted that the term Damascus has its etymological origin in Greek, exactly in “Damaskos”, which then derived to Latin as “Damascus”. It should also be noted that it was used to name the city of Damascus, the capital of Syria, which is one of the oldest cities in the world.

Syria

The concept of apricots can be used in different ways. One of the most common uses is linked to a tree also called alboricoquero, which belongs to the family group of rosaceae.

This tree – of branches lacking thorns, heart-shaped leaves and white flowers – and its fruit are known as damask. The scientific name of this plant originating in China and with a wide presence in countries such as Syria, ArmeniaIran and Turkey is Prunus Armenia.

Turkey

Apricots are consumed worldwide. They may be swallowed fresh, dried or after undergoing different processes. The fruit is also used for the production of oil, for the manufacture of face masks and to make a liqueur called amaretto (which combines the bones or carozos of the apricots with almonds).

It is also called damask to a wool or silk cloth that is characterized by its strength and by the drawings that are formed by warp and weft. This kind of tissue emerged in the 11th century in the Middle East and then expanded to Europe.

Damascus,finally, is the name of the capital of Syria. It is one of the oldest inhabited towns in the world, with a history of more than 4,000 years. Its historic centre, in fact, was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

In the Old City of Damascus you can see remains of the Roman wall that surrounded it next to eight of its gates, as well as numerous monuments and buildings that are great exponents of Islamic art.

Specifically, the eight doors are as follows: Bab al-Faraj (Liberation Gate), Bab al-Salam (Gate of Peace), Bab al-Faradis (Gateway of Paradise), Bab Tuma (St. Thomas Gate), Bab al-Jabiya, Bab Sharqi (East Gate), al-Bab al-Saghir (Small Door) ) and Bab Kisan.

Among the most significant monuments or enclaves of the Old City of Damascus we can highlight the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter, the souk Al-Hamidiyah, the Caravasar or the Tomb of Saladin, among others.

However, there are many more attractive ones such as St. George’s Cathedral, the Straight Way or the Plaza de la Gran Mezquita de los Umayyas.

Of course, we cannot overlook the existence of a metal bearing the term in its name. We are referring to the steel of Damascus, which was used in the Middle East during the period between the 12th and 18th centuries to make swords. Swords that became a reference around the world because of the hardness they had.

Today, however, the aforementioned steel is used for what is the manufacture of knives that stand out for their quality.

Damascus