Damascus, Jan .31 (SANA) Damascus International Book Fair this year offers more than books, it tells the story of Syria’s enduring intellectual legacy. From the first alphabet created in ancient Ugarit to today’s vibrant literary scene, the fair’s logo captures thousands of years of cultural history in a single, striking visual.
Design Significance
Deputy Minister of Culture, Saad Naasan, told SANA that the logo was designed to symbolize Damascus and Syria as a whole, in the form of four vertically stacked books. Each book contains an ancient library with many volumes, directly referencing the connection between place and knowledge. He emphasized that the book is not merely a visual element, but the core of Syrian cultural identity.
The Four Letters and the Ancient City
Naasan noted that the logo incorporates four ancient letters formed by the books and libraries, symbolizing the historical civilization of Ugarit. These letters are inspired by the world’s oldest discovered alphabet, dating back to the 14th century BC, found in ancient Ras Shamra on the Syrian coast.
He added that these letters convey a clear message; Syrians are the creators of the book and the alphabet, an integral part of their history and identity, reflecting the fair’s slogan “A history we write… a history we read.”
Cultural Message of the Logo
Naasan affirmed that both the visual and written logos convey the idea that Syrians have written and read history for thousands of years, and today continue to write their history, read their present, and build their future based on their deeply rooted civilization. He noted that Syria does not need to import new culture, as it is itself a “culture of civilizations,” but rather needs to strengthen and share this culture with the world.
From Ugarit to Ebla Memory of Early Knowledge
The deputy minister also explained that the logo evokes the symbolism of the world’s oldest known library, the Library of Ebla, dating back to around 2400 BC. It contains hundreds and thousands of clay tablets, many yet untranslated, and was a true library in every sense of the word. He added that this library served as a primary source of knowledge about the region’s history across multiple fields.
Logo Philosophy a Distinctly Syrian Identity
Naasan concluded by emphasizing that the Damascus International Book Fair logo is distinctly Syrian, starting from Ugarit, passing through Ebla, and reaching the new Syria, liberated from the ousted regime. It embodies a cultural philosophy that sees the book, alphabet, and civilizational memory as a foundation for building the present and shaping the future.
Fair Details
The Damascus International Book Fair will open on February 5th at the Fairgrounds and will welcome visitors for ten days, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
