Damascus, April 18 (SANA)
Damascus from Above: A Hidden Treasure Above the Clouds
Damascus, the capital of tales and eras, never ceases to surprise even its own people. While many believe they know every corner of it, they discover day by day that the city embraces thousands of landmarks, some visible to the eye, and others that pass before their eyes hundreds of times without them realizing their value.
At the highest points of the towering Mount Qasioun, which rises more than 1,100 meters above sea altitude and overlooks Damascus from all directions, lies one of the city’s deepest secrets: the “Shrine of the Forty” and the “Cave of Blood,” two archaeological sites that hold within their rocks the first tales of humanity.
The Cave of Blood: Witness to the First Crime in Human History
The cave is known in historical books as the “Place of Blood,” and historical accounts indicate that it is the site where Cain killed his brother Abel. The proof of this, according to popular beliefs, is a rock bearing a red color said to be remnants of Abel’s blood, which has remained through the centuries as a witness to the first crime.
But more astonishing than that is the fissure in the rock, which resembles an open mouth with teeth and a tongue. Popular tales interpret this formation as a “gasp” released by the mountain in horror of the crime, or perhaps an attempt by the mountain to swallow the killer as punishment for his deed. As for the water droplets that still slowly drip from the rocks, they are the “mountain’s tears” shed in sorrow over the first victim in human history.
Forty Saints Guarding Damascus
Near the Cave of Blood lies the mosque and Shrine of the Forty, which gave its name to this part of the mountain, so it became known as the “Mountain of the Forty.” The place has multiple names: “The Forty Shrine,” and “The Forty Men,” each with its own story.
The mosque contains forty mihrabs, attributed to forty saints believed to guard Damascus from all evil. Generations pass down stories of forty righteous men who took refuge in the cave to escape the tyranny of an oppressive king, and the mountain split open to protect them.
One account tells that these righteous men once gathered at the site with only a single loaf of bread; each refused to eat it, preferring it for the others over himself, until they all died of hunger and the loaf remained untouched. Another narrative says that the Prophet John (Yahya), son of Zechariah, resided in this cave for forty years.
Traces of Angelic Fingers and the Word of God
The legends do not stop there; some accounts point to traces resembling handprints on the cave’s ceiling, attributed to the Angel Gabriel, who prevented the ceiling from collapsing on one of the prophets. Alongside these traces, the word “Allah” is inscribed on the stone, in addition to a piece of rock said to be the one Cain used in his crime.
On the slopes of Mount Qasioun extending toward the western countryside, in the Zabadani plain, lies the Shrine of the Prophet Abel, where he was buried after his murder. The story recounts that Cain carried his brother’s body, not knowing what to do with it, until he saw a crow burying another crow, so he followed its example.
A Journey Upward Toward the Sky
Today, many Damascene residents are unaware of the existence of this historical treasure. Some see it from below as a lit spot on the mountain without knowing what it is, while others refrain from visiting it, assuming it is difficult to reach.
The journey begins from the “Rukn al-Din” neighborhood on the slope of Qasioun, ascending toward the “Sheikh Muhi al-Din” neighborhood, where one can use the small vehicles residents use to navigate the narrow alleys. From a specific point, one must continue on foot between the houses until reaching the beginning of the stone staircase consisting of approximately 650 steps.
The initial steps appear difficult and uneven in height, but gradually they become more regular, with a metal railing for support. With each step, wider expanses of the city unfold, until arrival after about an hour of climbing.
Enchanting Moments at Dawn and Dusk
Dawn and dusk are considered the ideal times to visit, especially in spring and autumn, to avoid heat or darkness, and to enjoy the view of Damascus from the highest accessible point on the mountain.
Upon entering the shrine, the visitor is greeted by a small open space, then can proceed toward the Cave of Blood to see the red color, the rock fissure, and the falling water droplets. Or head right toward the mosque, crowned by a smooth green dome free of ornamentation, from which a wooden staircase leads up to the forty sites. To the left, there is a spacious hall with windows overlooking the city clearly.
Minutes and hours pass at the shrine and the cave without count, in an atmosphere of rare tranquility, far from the city’s noise, and in the presence of the Forty Saints, guardians of Damascus for hundreds of years.
A story Worth Telling
If you are a resident of Damascus and have not visited the Shrine of the Forty before, you have missed one of the most beautiful faces of your city. And if you are outside it, dream of visiting it one day, and discover where the mountain breathes humanity’s first tales, and where legend meets history at the highest point overlooking one of the oldest cities in the world.
Iman Alzuheiri /Mazen
