In the northwestern part of Syria, not far from the Syrian-Turkish border (45 km), there is largest center of this Middle Eastern country is the city of Aleppo, known to Europeans as Aleppo, and in Jewish sources as Aram Tsova. The dates of its foundation differ, but in the sixth millennium BC. e. these places were already inhabited, and by the fifth millennium there was definitely a fairly large settlement here, mentioned in the Babylonian cuneiform tablets. By 2500 BC. e. There are references to the city of Aleppo; then it was spoken of in connection with its proximity to the ancient Semitic trading city-state called Ebla. During this period it was better known as Armi in Ebla itself, around 2240 BC. e. plundered along with Aleppo by the Akkadian king from the Sargonid dynasty.
But the city was revived and was subsequently mentioned as the center of the kingdom of Yamhad (Yamhad; c. XIX-XV centuries BC) - one of the strongest states in the Middle East at that time. Even then, the name “land of Aleb” spread to these places. But this one too ancient empire was crushed. Later, Aleppo was in the zone of interests of the Egyptians and the Hittites, who eventually got it, to end of XVII V. BC e. Moreover, for the latter he had special meaning, since it was here that the center of worship of the weather god, revered among the Hittites, was located.
Having briefly been under the rule of the Mitanni state, the city by the XIV-XIII centuries. BC e. again passes to the Hittites, who will own it until about 1200 BC. e. - the time of the fall of the Hittite kingdom. Halpe, Khalpa and Halibon are also ancient names of Aleppo. The fall of the Hittite Empire brought freedom to the city, and for some time it was the center of the kingdom of the same name - small but very influential.
Later, it was taken over by the rulers of the Achaemenid and Seleucid dynasties. So it passed from one to another, until in 64 it went to Rome and later - “by inheritance” - to Byzantium. The new era brought him new names: Veria/Beroia for the Greeks and Romans. In 636, the townspeople had to submit to the Arabs, who had long been interested in this great center of antiquity, and everything else located on the Silk Road. Medieval Europeans nicknamed it Aleppo in the Italian manner.
Etymology ancient name lost in the centuries and in the numerous historical vicissitudes that happened to the city. “Haleb” is sometimes associated with the name of the metal (“iron” or “copper”) - and this would be quite reasonable, since the city has long been famous for its blacksmith’s products. They remember that, translated from Aramaic, the similar-sounding word “halaba” means “white,” which may serve as a hint at the well-known wealth of the region in marble.
But the most unusual explanation for the origin of the old name literally goes back to biblical times: they say that the ancestor of the Jewish people, the prophet Abraham, lived nearby, who always graciously treated travelers with milk. One of the versions of the legend retained the sound of the question that travelers asked: “Halab Ibrahim?”, which meant “Did Abraham milk?” So the word “halab”/“haleb” is associated with the verb “to milk”. At the same time, in Hebrew, “halav”/“freebie” means “milk”. And since it is believed that Abraham’s cow was red (in Arabic “shaheb”), it is as if the city was nicknamed Aleb-ash-Shahba. This etymological legend is told by many: for example, its version from the 12th century. well preserved in the texts of the Jewish traveler Ptahia from Regensburg (II half of the 12th century).
By the time it was captured by the Mongols in 1260, it was a thriving city, a center of crafts and cultural life, and the economic capital of a vast region. Tamerlane (1336-1405) did not ignore him either. From the control of the Mamluk state, Aleppo in 1516 migrated to Ottoman Empire. But the shocks and trials did not end there: the earthquake of 1822 destroyed it again, as before (in 1138), the continued existence of the city was called into question by one of the deadliest earthquakes in the entire history of mankind, which claimed at least 230,000 lives.
In 1827, the city's strength was undermined by a severe epidemic of plague, and in 1832, cholera. And yet Aleppo survived until the last quarter of the 19th century. experienced a new economic boom. At this time, industry was developed here: silk, paper, wool and brocade materials made in local factories were famous throughout the East, and not only. Today it is the largest textile manufacturing center in the country, because cotton plantations are concentrated around the city itself.
It is interesting that the skill of making fabrics is developed not only on an industrial scale, but is still passed down from generation to generation (“about 5,000 hand looms operate at home”). This especially applies to silk weaving. Locally produced silk products are in demand all over the world.
In addition, the city also exports wool and cotton, wax and tobacco, pistachios and wheat, and soap. The latter is worth mentioning separately, because not only the city itself, but the whole of Syria is proud of Aleppo soap. It is prepared on the basis of olive oil with an admixture of bay leaves. This absolutely natural and very valuable product is aged for months, and especially expensive varieties “ripen” for years, but such soap is stored for years. The secrets of its manufacture have been carefully guarded for thousands of years. And the soap “delicacy” is cut exclusively with a silver knife and stamped - like a real jewel.
Aleppo amazes not only with its original traditions. The architecture of the city, which was formed over several millennia, deserves special attention. Each “owner” sought to leave their mark on it, and now the mixture of architectural styles makes the city ensemble unforgettable. Hotels and hammams, schools and some residential buildings often date back to the XIII-XIV centuries, the style of the XVI-XVII centuries. preserved in the appearance of bourgeois houses, there are often examples of oriental baroque, as well as buildings in the style of the 19th - early 20th centuries, into which neoclassical, Chinese and even Norman quarters or individual buildings are somehow interspersed.
But, of course, the true pearl of Aleppo architecture is (10th century), which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1986. The fort withstood many battles for the city, but was significantly damaged by the earthquake of 1822, after which the fortress is still being restored. The restoration is large-scale and has been implemented with the support of UNESCO since 2000. But that's not all. It was excavations in the Aleppo region that led to the discovery of the culture of ancient Ebla, and the stone block of the Aleppo Jami-Kykan mosque (XIII century) preserved Hittite writing, thanks to which scientists found the key to deciphering the Hittite language.
The city is 120 km away from the Mediterranean Sea. It is the center of Syria's most densely populated governorate. The Syrian Desert approaches it from the east. The mayors of Aleppo have grandiose plans for the future development of the city: according to them, Aleppo should expand by 2015 from the current approximately 190 km 2 to 420 km 2 But Aleppo is already considered one of the cities in the Middle East demonstrating high growth rates.
Language: Arabic (North Syrian Shawi dialect).
Ethnic composition: Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen - the majority, others - Armenians, Greeks, etc.
Religion: more than 80% - Islam (Sunnism - the majority), about 12% - Christianity, approximately 8% - others.
Currency unit: Syrian pound.
Airport: Aleppo International Airport.
Numbers
Area: 190 km2.Population: 2,132,100 people. (2004).
Population density: 11,222 people/km 2
Economy
Industry: metalworking, cement, food-flavoring, light industry (including silk-winding, cotton-ginning, wool-processing, leather and footwear).
Agriculture: livestock farming, crop growing (cereals, cotton, cultivation of pistachio and olive trees, viticulture).
Service sector: tourism, trade, transport.
Climate and weather
Subtropical, semiarid.Average January temperature:+7°C.
Average temperature in July:+29°С.
Average annual precipitation: 395 mm.
Attractions
■ Aleppo Fortress(in its current form - ca. XIII century); Roman aqueduct, fragments of medieval walls and five gates (1390-early 16th century)■ Mosques: Great Umayyad Mosque (VIII-XIII centuries). Jami-Kykan mosque (XIII century). mosques - madrassas.
■ Indoor souks - shopping arcades(from the 13th century, area - several hectares, length - 13 km); Beit Jonblat Palace (dating to the 16th century). traditional residential houses different eras with rich decor.
■ Archaeological Museum.
■ About 700 abandoned ancient cities and surrounding areas.
Curious facts
■ Residents of Aleppo sheltered Armenian refugees after the genocide of the Armenian population carried out in 1915 on the territory of the Ottoman Empire. The withdrawal of French troops from Cilicia in 1923 led to a new wave of Armenian migration, so that to this day the Armenian community is one of the largest in the city, making Aleppo the most Christian city in Syria.■ In 1417, the life of Nasimi, an outstanding Azerbaijani poet of global scale, who wrote in several eastern languages, was cut short in Aleppo. The local clergy brought terrible accusations against the poet, and the Sultan of the city ordered Nasimi to be flayed and his body put on public display. According to legend, the poet's blood was declared cursed, so that everything that came into contact with it had to be cut off with a sword and burned out with fire. Popular rumor attributes this statement to one theologian who was present at the execution. Ironically, a drop of Nasimi’s blood fell on the slanderer, and while the people were arguing with him, demanding that the theologian’s cursed finger be cut off, the poet managed to compose last poem. It is believed that the tomb of the sufferer is located in Aleppo, and one of his descendants has the keys to it.
■ In Aleppo there was one of the most active divisions of the organization of Arab beggars - harafish. Their hierarchy had its own sheikhs and sultans, to whom even local rulers listened if they wanted to use beggars for some kind of work.
■ In the 10th century. The Byzantine emperor Nicephorus II Phocas tried to take the Aleppo fortress. His nephew Theodore decided to address the soldiers with an uplifting speech and turned his back to the fortress from where he received death blow a stone in the back. Enraged, Nikephoros returned to the city, gathered 12,000 inhabitants and, bringing them to their knees in front of an unshakable fortress, carried out a mass execution, beheading everyone. Without touching the fortress, Nikifor retreated.
■ The Monastery of St. Simeon preserves the memory of the righteous man of the 5th century. - Simeon the Stylite, who secluded himself, built himself a pillar (tower), on which he lived and preached to pilgrims. For 36 years he built his pillar, bringing it to a height of 15 meters. The pillar has hardly survived, but the church marking this place is intact.
■ At the Aleppo stadium, chefs created the world's largest cake: in total 4 tons of marzipan, pistachios and other confectionery ingredients fit into a mold 20 m long and 10 m wide. Most of all glucose was used - 3 tons for 1.5 tons of almonds and 630 liters of water.
■ In one of the halls of the Aleppo fortress, there is a hole above a pit 20 m deep: unfaithful wives and other traitors were thrown into it.
Aleppo, or Aleppo(Arabic: حَلَبُ Khalyab, Armenian: Հալեպ, Greek: Αλέππο) is a large city in Syria and the center of the province of the same name. Located in the northern part of Syria, between the Orontes and the Euphrates, on the steppe river Queik (Arabic: قويق), at the northwestern foot of a barren hill, in a wide basin, surrounded on all sides by high limestone walls, at an altitude of 380 m and 350 km northeast of Damascus.
On both sides of the high-water and sometimes rapidly rushing river lie luxurious gardens, abundant with fruits and famous for their excellent pistachio plantations. This is the only pleasant place in the deserted environs of the city, which, with its numerous domes and minarets, neat, paved streets and stone houses, still belongs to the most beautiful cities East.
Etymology
The origin of the ancient name "Aleppo", "Aleppo" is unclear. Some suggest that "Aleppo" means "iron" or "copper", since it was the main producer of these metals in ancient times. "Halaba" means "white" in Aramaic, referring to the color of the soil and the abundance of marble in the area. Another proposed etymology is that the name "Aleppo" means "to milk milk", from ancient legend that Abraham gave milk to travelers. The color of his cow was red (Arabic: shaheb), which is why the city is called “Aleppo” ash-Shahba.”
Population
Population - more than 2.4 million people (2008).
The majority of Aleppo residents are Muslim Arabs. The Christian population consists of Greeks, Armenians, Maronites, Syrian Catholics; There are Jewish and American Protestant communities.
Also in early XIX centuries, Aleppo had 200 thousand inhabitants, extensive industry and trade, its factories supplied the entire East with silk, paper, wool and brocade fabrics. But the earthquake of August 24, 1822, the plague of 1827 and cholera of 1832 undermined his well-being.
Attractions
The most ancient monument in the city is an 11 km long aqueduct, built by the Romans. A huge wall, 10 m high and 6.5 m thick, with seven gates, separates the city from the outskirts. The covered courtyard (bazaar) opens onto several streets, the whole consists of vaults and is illuminated from above through windows made partly in special domes. Aleppo has 7 large churches along with 3 monasteries and the El-Yalawe Mosque in the old Roman style, originally built as a church by Empress Helena. The main export items and at the same time the main products of the country are wool, cotton, silk, wax, pistachios, soap, tobacco, wheat, which are exported mainly to France and Turkish harbors. The industry is limited to silk products. Residents of Aleppo mainly consider themselves Sharifs, that is, descendants of Muhammad. Another pride of the residents is the Citadel, the base of which rises 50 meters above the city. For a long time the entire city lay within the citadel and only in the 16th century, after Aleppo came under control Ottoman Empire, the city began to gradually expand outside the fortress walls. 
Historical Buildings
- Aleppo Citadel, a large hilltop fortress rising 50m above the city. It dates back to the 13th century and was damaged by earthquakes, notably in 1822.
- Great Mosque of Aleppo (Jami el-Kabir)
- Altun God Mosque (1318).
- Al-Tawashi mosque
- Khair Bey Mausoleum (1514)
- Zahiriye Madrasah (1217).
- Halauie madrasah, built in 1124 same place Cathedral of St. Helena. Then Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, built a large Byzantine cathedral. As the invading Crusaders sacked the city, the city's chief magistrate converted St. Helen's into a mosque, and finally, in the mid-12th century, Nur al-Din founded madrassas, or religious schools, there.
- Bimaristan Arghun al-Kamili, a refuge that operated from 1354 until the beginning of the 20th century.
- Faradis Madrasah (“School of Paradise”), listed “The Most Beautiful Mosques of Aleppo.” It was built by the widow Malek Zahir in 1234-1237, then by the regent Nasir Yusuf. Notable is the courtyard with a swimming pool in the middle, surrounded by arches with antique columns.
- Beit Ajikbash, Beit Ghazaleh and al-Dallal, houses of the 17th-18th centuries in the Zhdeide quarter, are now museums.
- Khanqa al-Farafra, Sufi monastery (1237).
- Moqaddamia madrasah, the oldest theological school in the city (1168).
- Sultaniya madrasah, started by Malek Zahir and completed in 1223-1225 by his son al-Aziz.
- Aleppo National Library
- Aleppo Museum
- Chapel of Bab Al-Faraj.
- Bab al-Hadid (en: Bab al-Hadid) (باب الحديد) (Iron Gate).
- Bab al-Maqam (en: Bab al-Maqam) (باب المقام) (gate to the temple).
- Bab Antakeya (باب انطاكية) (gate of Antioch).
- Bab al-Nasr (en: Bab al-Nasr) (باب النصر) (gate of victory).
- Bab al-Faraj (en: Bab al-Faraj) (باب الفرج) (gate of luck).
- Bab Qinnasrin (باب قنسرين) (Qinnasrin Gate).
- Bab Zhnen (باب الجنان) (garden gate).
- Bab el-Ahmar (باب الأحمر) (Red Gate).
Religious buildings
- The Great Mosque of Aleppo (Jami el-Kabir) or Umayyad Mosque, founded in 715 by Walid I and most likely completed by his successor Suleiman. The building contains the tomb of Zechariah, father of John the Baptist. The mosque was damaged during Mongol invasion in 1260, and was restored. It has four facades of different styles.
- Khusruwiyah Mosque, completed in 1547, was designed by the famous Ottoman architect Sinan.
- Al-Nuqtah Mosque ("Mosque of a drop (of blood)"), Shiite mosque. It is believed that the site was previously a monastery, converted into a mosque in 944.
- Al-Adeliya Mosque, built in 1555 by the governor of Aleppo, Muhammad Pasha.
- Al-Saffahiya Mosque, built in 1425, with wonderfully designed octagonal minarets.
- Al-Qaiqan Mosque ("Mosque of the Crows"), with two ancient basalt columns at the entrance. The mosque contains a stone block with Hittite inscriptions.
- Altun God Mosque (1318).
- Al-Tawashi Mosque (14th century, restored in 1537), with a large façade decorated with columns.
- Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs (en: Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs) is an Armenian church in Zhdeid (XVI century).
- Central Synagogue of Aleppo - built ca. 1200 by the Jewish community.
- Maronite, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic and many other churches in the old Christian quarter of Zhdeide.
Aleppo Park is the largest park in Syria. It was opened in 1940 and is located in the Aziziye region. The Blue Lagoon is a water park located within Aleppo. Includes several swimming pools, roller coasters, bars and restaurants. The city has many cinemas, most of them are located on Baron Street. Among them is the famous Cine d’Alep Chahba cinema. Casino d'Alep is the only casino operating in the Syrian Arab Republic. 
Story
The city is the oldest inhabited in the world. The place was inhabited approximately 5 thousand BC. e., as shown by excavations at Tallet Alsauda. Aleppo is mentioned in Hittite inscriptions in the Mari inscriptions on the Euphrates and central Anatolia.
BC
In the XIV-XIII centuries BC. e. the city was ruled by the Hittites. Aleppo later became a key point on the main caravan route through Syria to Baghdad. From the 9th to the 7th centuries BC. e. was under Assyrian control, and was known as Halman. Then in the 6th century. BC e. it was owned by the Persians and Seleucids. In 333 BC. e. Aleppo was captured by Alexander the Great and ruled by the Greeks for 300 years as part of the Seleucid Empire. He was important at the time shopping center between the Euphrates and Antioch. Seleucus I (280 BC) rebuilt a large part of Aleb and renamed it Beroya, but after its conquest by the Arabs it again began to be called by its old name. The city's importance for trade increased with the fall of Palmyra. In 64 BC. e. Pompey incorporated Syria into the Roman Empire.
our era
The city remained under Roman control in the form of the Byzantine Empire and was important center Christianity in the Middle East (a huge cathedral was built here), until 637 AD. e., when it was captured by the Arabs. In 962, the city was briefly returned to Christians by the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros Phocas.
Subsequently, in 944, Aleppo was captured by the Hamadans, who made it virtually independent of the Abbasid Caliphate. Under the first Hamadan, Saif Al-Daula (who built the famous citadel of Aleppo), the city flourished and was famous for its science, literature and medicine, despite that ruler's military ambitions. It is necessary to mention the two most prominent poets - Al-Mutanabbi and Abu Al-Firas; the philosopher and scientist Al-Farabi, a leading Arab thinker, the predecessor of Avicenna, and the linguist Ibn Kalawa. They all lived at the court of Saif Al-Daula and were known for their great knowledge and talents.
In 1138, the city was destroyed by the Aleppo earthquake, which is one of the deadliest in history. In 1260 Aleppo was sacked by the Mongols, and in 1400 by the hordes of Timur. It later fell under the rule of the Egyptian Mamluks, and in 1516 Selim I annexed it to the Ottoman Empire.
In the 19th century, Aleppo attracted everyone's attention with the terrible atrocities committed against Christians in the spring of 1850, and the subsequent uprising, which in November was drowned in blood by Kerim Pasha with the generals Bem and Guyon.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Aleppo had a population of 200 thousand, had extensive industry and trade, its factories supplied the entire East with silk, paper, wool and brocade fabrics. But the earthquake of August 24, 1822, the plague of 1827 and cholera of 1832 undermined his well-being.
Economy
The main economic role of the city is as a trading place, and it is located at the crossroads of two trade routes and mediation in trade with India. It continued to prosper until Europeans began using the Cape route to India and then using the route through Egypt to the Red Sea. Since then, the city has seen a decline in agricultural exports to surrounding regions, mainly wheat, cotton, pistachios, olives and sheep.
Interesting Facts
- The tomb of the Azerbaijani poet Nasimi is located in Aleppo. In 1417, as a result of accusations brought by the clergy, Nasimi was arrested and executed. The keys to the tomb are in the possession of a descendant of Nasimi.
- The first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan was born in Aleppo.
Population of Syria: numbers, national and religious composition, big cities
27.10.2017
Population of Syriaas of July 1, 2017 is 18,270,000 people or 0.25% of the world's population (according to data 3 - Wikipedia:Assessment (forecast) of the Department of Economic and social issues UN as of July 1, 2017).
Population of Syriafor 2011 was 22,517,750 people. Of them: 11,441,978 people - men and11,075,722 people women.According to the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics.
According to other counters (excluding civil war):
Population of Syriaas of October 1, 2015is 23,404,834 people (according to data 3 - Wikipedia: Official Population Count of Syria - estimate made before the Syrian Civil War. Losses are estimated at more than 200,000 people until the end of November 2014).Civil war in Syria
Syria's population has declined by 8% since the country's civil war, according to the UN Middle East Agency.
The actual population fell by about 5 million due tocivil war in Syria with2011. Of these, more than 4 million are refugees and at least 210,000 killed .
Population dynamics of Syria by year
| Year | Population | ±% |
| 1937 | 2,368,000 | - |
| 1950 | 3,252,000 | +37.3% |
| 1960 | 4,565,000 | +40.4% |
| 1970 | 6,305,000 | +38.1% |
| 1980 | 8,704,000 | +38.0% |
| 1990 | 12,116,000 | +39.2% |
| 1995 | 14,186,000 | +17.1% |
| 2011 | 22,517,750 | n.d. |
| 2015 | 18,502,413 | n.d. |
1937-1995 source. 2011 and 2015 - data given above.
Syria population statistics
The share of the urban population is 56%.
The population growth rate in 2010-2015 will be 1.7%.
The majority of the population is concentrated along the banks of the Euphrates and on the Mediterranean coast. Population density - 103 people/km².
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.2% (males 4,066,109 / females 3,865,817); 15-64 years: 61% (men 6,985,067 / women 6,753,619); 65 years and older: 3.8% (men 390,802/women 456,336)(2011 estimate)
Average age: Total population: 22.1 years, men 21.9 years, women 21.7 years 22.1 years. (2011).
Population growth rate:-0.797% (2012 est.)
Fertility: 2.35 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Mortality: 3.67 deaths/1000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate:-27.82 Migrants/1000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 m/f; up to 15 years: 1.06; 15-64 years: 1.05; 65 years and older: 0.89; Total population: 1.05 (2009)
Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 71.19 years; men: 69.8 years; women: 72.68 years (2009). According to other data: men 74 years old; women 78 years old.
UN estimates
| Period | born | Died | Growth | CBR | CDR | NC | TFR | IMR |
| 1950-1955 | 187 000 | 75 000 | 112 000 | 51,2 | 20,5 | 30,6 | 7,23 | 180,1 |
| 1955-1960 | 212 000 | 77 000 | 136 000 | 50.1 | 18.1 | 32,0 | 7,38 | 150,5 |
| 1960-1965 | 241 000 | 76 000 | 165 000 | 48,5 | 15.3 | 33,3 | 7,54 | 121,8 |
| 1965-1970 | 275 000 | 74 000 | 201 000 | 46,8 | 12,5 | 34,2 | 7,56 | 98,8 |
| 1970-1975 | 322 000 | 70 000 | 252 000 | 46,3 | 10.1 | 36,2 | 7,54 | 77,3 |
| 1975-1980 | 373 000 | 69 000 | 304 000 | 45 | 8.3 | 37,0 | 7,32 | 63,1 |
| 1980-1985 | 417 000 | 66 000 | 351 000 | 42,8 | 6.7 | 36.1 | 6,77 | 49,9 |
| 1985-1990 | 440 000 | 61 000 | 379 000 | 38,4 | 5.3 | 33.1 | 5,87 | 36,2 |
| 1990-1995 | 441 000 | 58 000 | 383 000 | 33,3 | 4.3 | 28,9 | 4.8 | 26.1 |
| 1995-2000 | 447 000 | 58 000 | 389 000 | 29,7 | 3.8 | 25,8 | 3.96 | 20,8 |
| 2000-2005 | 451 000 | 62 000 | 389 000 | 26 | 3.6 | 22,6 | 3.39 | 17,4 |
| 2005-2010 | 465 000 | 69 000 | 396 000 | 23,9 | 3.5 | 20.4 | 3.1 | 15 |
Population density
Population density 1993. .
National composition of Syria (Ethnic composition)
Syrian Arabs (including about 400 thousand Palestinian refugees) make up about 90% of the country's population.
Kurds - 9% ( Most Kurds live in the north of the country, many still use the Kurdish language. There are also Kurdish communities in all major cities).
Other ethnic groups - about 1%: Third largest ethnic group countries are Syrian Turkmens.
Circassians, who are descendants of Muhajir migrants from the Caucasus, who are mainly engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture. Before the Yom Kippur War and the destruction of the city of Quneitra, half of the Circassians lived in Quneitra governorate; many of them moved to Damascus. The most small people Syria are the tribes of the senior zhuz of the Kazakhs - Sirgeli, immigrants from Kazakhstan. There are also large communities of Armenians and Assyrians in the country.
Religious composition of the population of Syria
Muslims - about 86% of Syria's population.Of the Muslims, 82% are Sunnis, the rest are Alawites and Ismailis, as well as Shiites, the number of which has been constantly increasing since 2003 due to the flow of refugees from Iraq.
Christians - 10%. Among Christians, half are Syrian Orthodox, 18% are Catholics (mainly members of the Syrian Catholic and Melkite Catholic churches).There are significant communities of the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox churches.
Drusen - About 3%. Some researchers consider them to be extreme Shiites.
More than half of Syrians are Sunnis, but the country has significant communities of Twelver Shiites, Nizari Ismailis and Alawites (16%), and various denominations of Christianity (10%).The official language is Arabic.
According to :
In 2011, Syria's population consisted of 70-74% Sunni Muslims (59-60% Arabs, 9-11% Kurds and 2-3% Turkmen) and 16% other Muslims (including 10% Alawites, Shia and Ismailis ( Shia and Ismaili)), 2-3% Druze. Various Christian denominations made up 10-12% of the population and there were several Jewish communities in Aleppo and Damascus.
Map of the ethno-religious composition of the population of Syria for 1976. Source Wikipedia: , , , .
Aleppo today is a patchwork quilt. The city is held by government troops, ISIS, some other rebels, they constantly fire at each other... when you see this on the news, you understand that there is no stone left unturned in the city. This is Stalingrad!
Center the map
Movement
By bike
While passing through
Dmitry Vozdvizhensky, journalist, photographer, traveler. Visiting the Site for curious travelers - my long-time colleague, journalist, photographer, experienced traveler. This article is about the Syrian city Aleppo we will continue the series of materials under common name“Syria before the war”, we’ll talk about what this country was like just recently, and about what kind of Syria we have irretrievably lost.
“I remember Aleppo as completely different,” says Dmitry, “neat children dressed in school uniforms going on an excursion to the museum, the citadel - a medieval fortress towering over the city, I remember smiling students dreaming about their future, young couples carefreely walking along the streets , the Great Mosque and the narrow streets of the old city, peasants who came to admire the local beauty and, of course, friendly sellers, because Aleppo has always been a kingdom of merchants! For many years it was the commercial capital of Syria. You could buy everything here! One day I wandered around the local bazaar all day, looked at it all, talked to people. As a result, I made a sketch about Aleppo, which I want to present now without changes. Because changing anything here is pointless. There is nothing like this anymore! Where are Adele and Ahmed now? What happened to these people? I think we can no longer ask such questions, because there is no answer to them. The shadows of Aleppo will not give an answer. My old report suddenly became a document, evidence of a war crime committed under the guise of fighting the “regime” of Bashar al-Assad.”
ALEPPO, SYRIA: An artisan makes a copper vat. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. Anyone who found himself in Aleppo for the first time was greatly amazed by the fact that almost the entire city center is one big bazaar- bitches On one side, small shops open onto covered streets, and on the other, they abut former caravanserais. Before the war they were used as ordinary warehouses. Previously, goods were stored there only on the first floors. The second housed inns, restaurants and hotels. And in the courtyards, after long journeys through the deserts, camels rested. Today, of course, all that remains of the camels are memories.
In ancient times, in addition to traders, artisans who worked with copper flourished in Aleppo. The traditions survived until the 21st century. In the old city there were many shops and workshops in which dozens of tinsmiths worked, making metal utensils. One version of the city’s name says that it comes from the word “haleb”, which means “iron”.
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Two elderly men in a shop. Photo: Dmitry Vozdizhensky. Yes, the flavor was no longer what it was before, but the passion for selling and buying, as admittedly local residents, it's in their blood. Only commerce allowed them to conduct decent life. Adele once studied in the Soviet Union and graduated from the Institute of Culture. Then he worked as a librarian in Aleppo. But, alas, librarians in Syria before the war received no more than Russian librarians. And Adel had two sons and a wife, Russian by the way. He met her in Leningrad. You cannot feed your family on a modest salary as a cultural worker. And then Adele started trading. As a result, he had two stores on the central branch. His son worked in one, and he himself worked in the other.
Adel, a Syrian shop owner said:“Tourists mainly buy these scarves, and local residents buy towels and robes. Men wear them, some for winter, some for summer. Winter ones are denser, and summer ones are lighter.”
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Children play football serenely on school yard. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. Of course, we couldn’t resist the temptation to see how a real men’s Arabic headscarf is actually supposed to be worn. Adele gladly agreed to help us in this matter.
Then he called his son, who, like his father, spoke excellent Russian, and invited us to his shop to talk about life. Over a glass of strong tea, he happily talked about Syrian morals.
“The most important thing in Syria is security. You can walk, even at night, at three in the morning, no one will touch you. Tourists come from the west, from eastern countries. Everyone praises this feature of ours. The people are kind. No one bothers tourists; on the contrary, they are well received. If you need to show the way, the seller will even leave his store and go show the way. We have kind, good people.”
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Men chat in the courtyard of the Great Mosque. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. Then our conversation turned to politics and religion. Adel shared his thoughts on Islam. He believed that many were hiding behind him to achieve their personal goals. In fact, it is a pure and humane religion.
Adel, Syrian, shop owner:“Our religion is not against other religions. Here, for example, is the beginning of the Koran, there is a sura there, one might say a part. Our god says: Glory to God - God of all people. Not just Muslims. He is the God of all people. We have never known or taught our children to be racist or to be aggressive. Please, we live in friendship with Christians. We live in the same country, under the same peaceful sky. God bless. How to say, Glory to Allah."
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Women and children walk in the courtyard of the Great Mosque. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. After Syria became independent from France, a warm friendship began with Soviet Union. Before the civil war, many people had the warmest feelings for Russia and sincerely considered our country great power. At that time, Aleppo was full of signs in Russian, although trade was mainly carried out not with Moscow, but with Kiev. And not on state level. New commercial ties firmly linked Syria with Ukraine. Due to their low cost, Syrian goods were in great demand among Ukrainian shuttle traders.
Adel and other Aleppo merchants knew how to make money practically out of thin air. Two small examples. It would seem, how much can you earn from seeds? Judging by our grandmothers selling them at markets, not very well. But it all depends on sales volumes. You can make a lot of money from seeds and nuts.
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Portrait of a man wearing an Arabic headscarf in the courtyard of the Great Mosque. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. 
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Men chat on the street. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. Ahmed Assab is the owner of a shop whose turnover reached an impressive figure: 300 kilograms per day! This is exactly how many different seeds and nuts were bought up by ordinary citizens of Aleppo every day from eight in the morning to five in the evening.
Ahmed Asab, shop owner:“I don’t know what I would do without nuts. It seems to me that nuts are the favorite food of many different people. Everyone buys - old and young, women and men. Everyone loves nuts."
If the front room of the shop, facing the street, was lined with cans and bags of goods and looked quite neat and tidy, then the back room, in which these same seeds were prepared, looked a little like a small private underworld. It was incredibly hot there. The seeds were roasted in a huge cauldron that looked like a concrete mixer. The process went on continuously. One person loaded and unloaded, another sifted, brought raw grains or nuts in large bags and carried them out finished products into the alley. Here she cooled down and waited for buyers. In the small closet there was constant fumes, smoke and dust from burnt husks. Passing by such an establishment even with eyes closed just by the smell you could tell that here they would be happy to sell you roasted almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios or some other fancy nuts.
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Smiling students on a city street. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. 
ALEPPO, SYRIA: School trip at the Aleppo Citadel. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. The Syrians in Aleppo also managed to make good money from soap. Nowadays, when these simplest hygiene product It won’t surprise anyone; it’s quite difficult to come up with something new. But the Syrians didn’t even come up with this idea. Real soap should be the same as it was invented. And it was invented, according to local residents, in Aleppo.
Zahir, salesman:“This is our famous soap. It takes a very long time to do. A special blend of bay and olive oil poured in an even layer on a sealed floor. And then you need to wait several months until the moisture evaporates. Then we cut the thickened mass into pieces and that’s it, you can wash yourself.”
Syrians claim that Aleppo soap is the best in the world. It is like wine, it only gets better with age. So, if you didn't have enough money for antique paintings or cognacs - before the war you could buy some aged Syrian soap here.
Bassel, seller:“This is a soft annual soap. Costs a dollar per kilogram. It can be cut with wire. But this is a three-year aging. And this is five years. It can only be sawed with a hacksaw. Costs five dollars per kilogram. And I also have for special clients ten year old soap!
ALEPPO, SYRIA: View of Aleppo from the Citadel. Before the start of the civil war, Aleppo's population was two and a half million people. Today, that figure has more than halved to less than one million people. The beginning of hostilities is considered to be February 10, 2012, when two car bombs were detonated. Street fighting began on July 19 and continued to escalate. The world's largest historical market, Souq al-Madinah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was destroyed at the end of September. More than 500 stores were burned...
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Unique minaret of the Great Mosque of Aleppo from the 11th century. Destroyed during the fighting. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. 
ALEPPO, SYRIA: Shadows of Aleppo. Shadows of people in an arch in the Aleppo citadel. Their fate is unknown. Photo: Dmitry Vozdvizhensky. Aleppo is considered the second city of Syria (after Damascus), but for many years it has been trying to challenge the capital for the title of the oldest city. The reason for this is ancient legends. Having such a not very fundamental justification for its ancient history, it is difficult for the residents of Aleppo to fight for the title oldest city Syria. However, they do it very successfully.
An ancient and incredibly beautiful country in which Christianity and Islam are closely intertwined, as well as many cultures and peoples, this is Syria. Aleppo (or Aleppo) is the second largest city in the state; it is also one of the most ancient settlements on our planet. Once upon a time, the famous Silk Road passed through it, and today tourists from all over the planet come here to get acquainted with the ancient monuments of our civilization, which gave rise to world religions and cultures.
Aleppo city, which is located closer to the north of the country. You can get there directly from Moscow in just a few hours, but such flights operate only on Mondays. On all other days, tourists get to this historical center through the capital - Damascus, and from there, using domestic airlines, they fly to Aleppo in an hour. It should be remembered that, like the rest of Syria, Aleppo is far from a beach holiday city. Most often people come here to carry out ordinary tourist tours or religious and pilgrimage tours. Therefore, the country has a well-developed railway network. Trains will take you quickly and comfortably to any other city. Similarly, you can travel by bus or by rented car.
What Aleppo looks like today
As mentioned above, the country-monument in which the holy of holies of almost all of humanity is kept is Syria. Aleppo is one of those ancient centers that contains a huge number of mosques and Christian churches, ancient covered markets and oriental baths. Almost the entire city is historical Center, and new buildings here can only be found on the outskirts. Conventionally, the city is divided into two main districts, Jade and Taiba, in which all these attractions are located. All this is covered by a medieval citadel, made in the Arab fortification style. The main attraction here is a huge hole in the floor into which criminals were thrown from a height of 20 meters.
Religious sights of the city
If you want to explore this magical and sacred country in fuller colors, then its capital should undoubtedly be on your program. Syria is a living museum, where in every city there is some kind of religious or architectural monument, and in megacities there are simply a lot of such places. There are caravanserais, famous hammams, mosques and tombs. Well, local guides will kindly offer camel rides to anywhere in the city, which will allow you to plunge not only into the life of the Middle East, but also into its past.
Syria, Aleppo - the city and its history
In the Mediterranean country of Syria, Aleppo is a city of history that cannot fail to attract tourists from all over the world. In addition to the mild climate, proximity to the sea coast and warm sun, Aleppo is also home to a number of architectural monuments that have thousand-year history. Many of them are living witnesses of the era of the Great Silk Road, the Roman conquests and the reign of the procurators. Like any other eastern city, Aleppo (or Aleppo, as the locals call it) can tell us the history of not only the eastern Mediterranean peoples, but the European ethnic groups who repeatedly conquered it, erecting their monuments and buildings there.
Today, Aleppo (like almost all of Syria) has become a large entertainment center where tourists from different parts of the world are welcome. All kinds of hotels are located on the territory of the eastern metropolis, cottage villages and hostels. Along with this service, the entertainment business is thriving in the city, which invites everyone to visit casinos, restaurants, clubs and cinemas and thus spend more than one wonderful evening in ancient city. It is worth noting that everything modern establishments, which were built in Aleppo, are designed in a single oriental style, so they are in perfect harmony with ancient buildings, and the city has a holistic and beautiful appearance.
The main attraction of the city is the Aleppo Citadel. Syria only recognized this architectural structure in the 20th century, which long years was the main city architectural monument on a global scale. These gigantic walls, which were previously considered a fortress, were erected by the joint efforts of the crusaders and local residents back in the first century AD. Within the fortress was the whole city, on the territory of which there were a mosque, a mausoleum, palaces of the ruling dynasty and settlements for the troops of the state of Syria. Aleppo, surrounded by this fence, is now considered old part city, as well as its main attraction.
Among the historically important places in Aleppo are also numerous caravanserais, which over the centuries were built so that wanderers traveling through the desert could rest, sleep and gather strength for a new journey.
These caravanserais are surrounded by oriental markets, where you can buy various local products, fruits and vegetables, as well as all sorts of souvenirs and trinkets that will always remind you of this wonderful city in southern country Syria Aleppo.
The city of Aleppo has had the proud status for many years now - northern capital. Syria, like many other states, has both an official (main) city and a historical one, which is Aleppo. It is here that tourists can purchase souvenirs that are not made anywhere else, and among them are carpets self made, clay jugs in the ancient oriental style, custom-made shoes, talismans and potions, as well as everything that Syria is rich in. Aleppo is a city whose memories will never leave your memory, and this is the place you always want to return to.
The historic city center is on fire in Aleppo, Syria.
During the fighting between the military and the rebels, fire engulfed the streets where one of the largest covered bazaars in the Middle East is located, online media reported, citing oppositionists.
Earlier, in the Syrian city of Homs, government units managed to discover a tunnel used by supporters of the overthrow of the authorities to attack army checkpoints. Through a secret passage, opponents of President Bashar al-Assad supplied weapons to sabotage groups continuing resistance in the populated area.
The day before, special forces pursued rebels in the Sulaymaniyah area. In addition, fighting took place in the cities of Aleppo and Rastan. According to authorities, government forces managed to kill several dozen rebels. On the approaches to Aleppo, columns of jeeps and pickup trucks were disabled.
It was also reported that the Syrian army had repulsed the decisive rebel offensive in Aleppo the day before. FSA militants wanted to break into the city center, where most of the government agencies, however, they failed - Syrian troops drove back the attackers. The militants, having suffered losses, retreated. The fiercest fighting took place in the Kurdish region of Sheikh Maksoud, located in the north of Aleppo.
Sources: www.syl.ru, fb.ru, n1.by, www.rosbalt.ru, ria.ru
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