Tartous, June 9 (SANA) Off the coast of Tartous, Arwad stands as Syria’s only inhabited island and one of the country’s oldest continuously occupied settlements, with a history spanning thousands of years.
Located about three kilometers from the Syrian mainland, the island has long served as a strategic maritime outpost in the eastern Mediterranean. Measuring about 750 meters in length and 450 meters in width, Arwad is surrounded by small rocky islets historically known as the “Daughters of Arwad.”
Its strategic location helped establish it as a center of maritime trade, navigation and coastal defense. Historical and archaeological sources indicate that the island has been inhabited since the third millennium BC, with references appearing in the Ebla tablets, the Amarna letters and ancient Egyptian records.
Historian Ammar al-Nahar told SANA that Arwad emerged as a major maritime power during the Phoenician era, developing a strong fleet and extensive commercial networks across the Mediterranean.
“The island is mentioned in the Ebla tablets, the Amarna letters and ancient Egyptian texts, as well as in Greek, Arab and Islamic sources, highlighting the depth of its historical presence and its maritime and commercial significance,” al-Nahar said.
During the Phoenician period, Arwad flourished as an independent maritime kingdom known for its shipbuilding and navigation expertise. Its influence extended to North Africa and Egyptian ports, while it maintained a degree of self-rule under successive Assyrian, Persian and Greek influence. The kingdom also minted its own coins during the Achaemenid era.
Following the arrival of Alexander the Great in 333 BC, Arwad came under Hellenistic and later Roman rule while retaining its commercial and maritime importance. After the Arab-Islamic conquest, it became an important naval base supporting Syria’s coastline and maritime activity in the Mediterranean.
Arwad’s strategic position also made it a focal point during periods of conflict. During the Crusades, it was fortified by the Knights Templar before being recaptured by the Mamluks in 1302, becoming the last Crusader stronghold to fall on the Levantine coast.
The island’s main fortress still bears traces of Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman architecture. During the French Mandate, it served as a prison for Syrian nationalists before being converted after independence into a local museum housing archaeological artifacts from the island and surrounding sites.
Today, Arwad remains known for its traditional fishing industry and wooden boatbuilding, crafts passed down through generations. Among its most notable landmarks are the main fortress, the Ayyubid Tower and the ancient Phoenician harbor.
Abd al-Hay al-Mohammad, director of antiquities in Tartous, said much of Arwad’s archaeological heritage remains unexplored because of limited excavation work and the island’s dense urban development. He stressed the need for further research, excavation and preservation efforts to better understand and protect the island’s rich historical legacy.
KA.ABD
