Damascus is situated in the south-western corner of Syria, in the oasis of
Ghouta on the margins of the Syrian Desert, by precision.
Damascus, settled about 2500 BC, claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited
city in the whole world. Its first appearance in history, is as a city conquered
in the 15th century BC by the Pharaoh Thutmosis III.
It was the capital of a powerful Aramaic state in the 9th and 8th centuries
BC, before being captured and sacked by the Assyrians. At that point, it lost
its independence for hundreds of years, falling under Neo-Babylonian, Persia,
Seleucid, and Roman rule.
During World War II, Free French and British forces entered Damascus, which
became capital of independent Syria in 1941.
The city is therefore a centre of both Christian and Muslim faith. It was on
the way to Damascus, that St. Paul, who was sent to put down the Christians,
had the revelation of faith.
Damascus steel gained a legendary reputation among the Crusaders, and patterned
steel is still known as "damascened".
Today, Damascus houses the Syrian Government and with an estimated population
of 3.5 million, is the hub of Syrian economic affairs. The old city lies south
of the Barada river, and the new town lies north of it.
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