Damascus, June 28 (SANA) Standing firm in the northwestern corner of the ancient walled city near the Barada River, the Citadel of Damascus remains a monumental stone testament to successive layers of history. This week, the Citadel has been officially inscribed on the Islamic World Heritage List by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
The recognition highlights the exceptional value of the fortress, reaffirming Damascus’s status as one of the great historical capitals in Arab and Islamic memory. The inscription enhances the citadel’s presence within international protection, documentation, and educational programs, celebrating Syrian heritage as an integral part of human civilization.
Nour Kdalm, Head of the Damascus Antiquities Department, told SANA that the Citadel derives additional historical weight from being part of Ancient Damascus, which has been an official UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Kdalm explained that the fortress’s placement within the living urban fabric of the old city is crucial for understanding the urban and defensive evolution of Damascus and its connection to millennia-old trade routes.
Archaeological studies by the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums indicate that while the site hosted ancient fortifications, the current citadel began taking its familiar shape during the Seljuk era in the late 11th century.
It underwent extensive expansion and reconstruction during the Ayyubid era under Sultan al-Adil Saif al-Din Abu Bakr bin Ayyub between 1203 and 1216 AD. Utilizing military engineering insights developed during the Crusades, al-Adil created a more durable and spacious stronghold, making it one of the most formidable castles in the Levant.
In his book The Citadel of Damascus, Abdul Qadir al-Rihawi notes that the landmark is a prime model of medieval Islamic military architecture. Built in a roughly rectangular shape, its massive curtain walls are reinforced by prominent defensive towers, subterranean corridors, barracks, and storehouses.
The construction seamlessly blends limestone and basalt blocks, decorated with monumental inscriptions that document subsequent restorations during the Mamluk and Ottoman eras.
Beyond its military function, the Citadel served as a political and administrative seat of governance. Archaeological excavations conducted within the grounds over the past decades continue to reveal stratified layers of architectural evolution, giving researchers vital material to understand the transformations Damascus witnessed through the centuries. Its inscription on the ICESCO list serves as a renewed commitment to preserving Syria’s rich heritage for future generations.
M.Q.R
