Damascus And Southern Syria

In Damascus, it is said, every metre you dig down equates to approximately one thousand years. Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world. Under the Umayyaden Mosque from the 7th century, there is an early Christian church, under that a temple dedicated to Jupiter and under that again a structure consecrated to a weather god. The film follows the history of Syria over the centuries: our journey begins in the desert oasis of Palmyra, home to the most beautiful Roman ruins in the world. From there it leads to the ancient trading city of Bosra built entirely of basalt on the Jordanian border, one of the end points of the Silk Road, past the huge Crusader castle “Crac des Chevaliers”, the last bastion of the Christian conquerors, and then onto the metropolis that is Damascus. This modern city is home to millions and yet to this very day the old city has remained busy and vibrant with small craft businesses, homes and a huge bazaar. Here the life of the Orient appears to still be intact in its traditional form.

Download synopsis (22,38 kb)