Damascus

(dah-maskūs.) [Syriac, Es - Sham.] A famous old city of Syria, C. of a Turkish pasha lic of same name, at the E. base of the Anti-Libanus chain of mts., 180 m. S. by W. of Aleppo; Lat. 33° 27′ N., Lon. 36° 25′ E. D. may be considered as the virtualC. of Syria, and is as remarkable for the beauty of its appearance, " embosomed in rose gardens," as it is for its fine climate and important commercial position, connecting as it does by caravan with the principal cities of Eastern Asia. It has im-Fig. 247. GATE OF DAMASCUS. portant manuť. of silk and cotton stuffs, leather, and soap, and bore for ages a high repute for the excellence of its sword blades. (See CUTLERY.) - D. is spoken of 1913 B. c. (Gen. xiv. 15); it was conquered by David, and in the reign of Solomon became the C. of the kingdom of Ben-Hadad. It afterwards pa ed under the rule of the Persians, Greeks, and Romans. After its capture by the Saracens, 632, it became for a length of time the metropolis of the E. Caliphate. In 1516, it was taken by the Turks, and, in 1832, by Ibrahim Pasha, viceroy of Egypt. Pop. 200,000. [s. 262]