|
|
Amrit |
|
The ancient city
of Amrit is only 7Km far to the south Tartous. A small Knoen river, called
Amrit River or Martias River, penetrates it. It spreads over about -6-
square kilometers. It is considered one of the most prominent cities on the
Cannanite- Phonecian coast. Aryan mentions that it was the main city in the
continental part of Award Kingdom.
The archeological
digs showed that it was established and inhabited by the Amorites at the end
of 30th century and the beginning of the 20th century
B.C.www.tartoos.com
It was mentioned
in Tohtomes the third raids under the name: Kurt Amroot. Alexandar's
chroniclers mentioned it under the name: Maratous, saying that it is a very
prosperous city and might be biggest city in the east .
It was subject to
Arwad and constitute with it an alliance that joined paltous ( Arab al-Molk
) , Balania ( Banyas ) and Carna ( Al-Qarnain ) .Also , it was a centre of
expansion to the Arwadians on the coast , building their homes , stores ,
factories and cemeteries there . This is clear because of the scattered
ruins over large areas . The Tokens refer to the existence of a port which
was filled up because of the erratics and the collected and the frith .
It flourished
during the Persian role , and grew when Alexandar came and he found it big
and rich .
He received the
delegates of king Darius in it , and the rude diplomatic letters were
interchanged between them .
Amrit disengaged
from the domination of Arwad . in the late 3rd century B.C –
precisely 219 B.C - , and the harted widened between them . so, the Arwadian
destroyed it in the mid of the 2nd century B.C- 148 B.C – as Dior
the Sicilian narrates . Then Astrabon mentioned the destroyed city of Amrit,
and that the Arwadian had shared its land .
Amrit LOST ITS
POSITION DURING THE 1ST ROMAN ERA . Then it came back to build
its glory in the decline of this era and the Byzantine era . This is what
the dig's primary results refered to in 1992.
Then it was
neglected and the crusaders used its building's stones in the fortifications
of Tartous and Amrit ….etc . So, it became an easy quarry of stones till
recent past .
The explorer
Bokuck visited Amrit in 1745 , and registered some of his seeings . Also ,
Earnest Rynan came and did archeological investigations in 1860 .www.tartoos.com
In 1926 , Maurice
Donan made archeological digs in the lodging of sacred things, and found a
group of ex-voto statues . The digs of the General office of Ruins and
museums continued , represented by Dr. Adnan al-Bounni and Prof.Naseeb
Salibi . In my turn , I continued the digs and instaurations for several
season in it .
The ruins of Amrit shimmed many museums , such as the Loover-France , Beirut
and American University Musuem – Lebanon , and the National musuem in
Damascus and Tartous museum – Syria
.
|
|
Art in Amrit
( الشراريف
----)
Though the
stones of Amrit were not suitable for decoration , they provided a lot of
great stones which carry a type of decoration .
Where as,
the stones of statues were brought from different areas . the art of
construction and sculpture had witnessed a tangible development which
refered to the greatness of the city . It depended on the stones' engraving
and the discuse of adhesive materials , and replacing the materials ,
sometimes , by lead and Sharareef.
This appears
clearly in the Temple , the Cemetery , the Playground , the Church site ,
and Bazak Tower .
As for the
ornament by Sharareef and engraved lying lions , it was impressed by the
Egyptian , Presian , and Greek types , as this beach was . The meeting point
of important civilizations across the sea , and the continuity of trade
relations , wars or raids .www.tartoos.com
Concerning
the statues of the gods and the persons , they were impressed by the
Egyptian art , in costume and decoration , or by the physiognomy and
standing on complete instep . This is obvious in the statues of Melkart ,
The sphinx and others . Also , the man – like coffins , which were
discovered recently in the area between / 1989 – 1994 / , were collected
from Egyptian , Greek , and Palmyrain elements in a way which distinguished
the Phoenician art , and they were from the 5th century B.C . The
artistic discoveries continued until the end of the Byzantine era . in 1970
, a mosaic portrait was foud at the nursery area – about 100m far from
Maratous river , and it kept its original form until now also, mosaic rooms
were found scattered in various places of Amrit from the / 3rd /
4th / century B.C .www.tartoos.com
The coins of Amrit
A lot of
Arwadian coins appeared in large areas of land in Amrit . Also , coins ,
called the Maratous , were stamped at different time in the / 2nd
– 3rd / century B.C . This means that Amrit was of an important
economic position position . On the coins , there was a picture of a barbate
god crowned by bag , and this refers to Zeus – the god of strom ( saint of
univers ) , Asklibus ( the curing god ) , Hermes holiding a caduceus of tow
snakes and tow wings at the top , and , also Apolon .www.tartoos.com
|
|
The Religion
Amrit
had Know a large number of gods , and glorified them , and the coins and
statues refered to them , such as Zeus , Askilibus , Bosidoun , Hermes and
Apolon . The Maratousian had participated with the Arwadians in the
celebrations and fests of Apolonia . As a result of this contact , some
people carry the name of Apolon in Amrit . Also , we find the stony statues
( Melkart , Hercules , the Sphinx , and heads of priests ) . There is the
little inscription which was found on a shaft from the ( 5th – 6th
) century B.C . written by a servant to his god Shedrafa because he heard
the voice of his master . This inscription represented the oldest mention of
Shedrafa whose name is mentioned , after that , in the Phonecian , Palmyrian
, and African inscriptions which were found in Syria under the name :
Strabees . The name seems to be consisted of tow parts which mean ( the soul
of recovery ) . Concerning the ritual celebrations and room process at the
temple , they were , sometimes , practiced by the boats ,the results of the
successive seasons of digs referred to the existence of many statues and
parts of ex-voto statues . It gives a clear idea about the people and their
social position , and they were presenting , according to their abilities ,
sacrifices to the gods , such as ( animal – pomegarante , Lanner , and dove
) , and ababy , sometimes , if something dangerous happened .www.tartoos.com
|
|
