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Super Syrians

by Ashley T.

Syria goes back a long time. It goes back as far as 2500 B.C.E.! That’s older than our grandparents (I hope). During the millions of years from then to now, many things have happened there including Syria being under rule of many different groups.

In 1800 B.C., King Shamshi- Adad I was the ruler of Assyria. Then came his son who was king from 1780 B.C.-1760 B.C. When King Shamshi-Adad I’s son was defeated in the 16^th century, the Kassites, a non-semitic group, took over. In the 10^th century, Damascus, Syria’s oldest continually inhabited city, was taken over by King David of Judah and Israel. Another one of the things that has changed in Syria is that they created religion.

One of the main religions was Muslim. To be Muslim means that they were people belonging to Islam: A person who believes in God and submits his will. Syrians also believed in other gods. One of those gods was Iarhibol. Iarhibol was the sun god and was honored throughout Near East Syria. Iarhibol not only was a sun god but was a model of light, truth and honor.

Now that I have told you a little bit about Syria’s history, I think that it is time to tell you where Syria is. Syria is in Asia bordered by Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. Syria Used to be a part of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia is an ancient region in southwest Asia between the Euphrates and the Tigris River which are in the modern day Iraq. Mesopotamia means ‘land between the rivers’.

Iarhibol

Iarhibol’s Temple

Map of modern day Syria Map of Mesopotamia

Syria is part of the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent is a region in the Middle East Stretching from the northern part of the Syrian Desert and going from the Nile Valley to the Tigris and the Euphrates river. It has sustained many civilizations such as Assyrians, Sumerians, Canaanites, Philistines, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Hyksos, Akkadians, Hittites, Hurians, mitanni, Kassites, Arameans, Amorites, Seleucids, Abbasids ect… The Fertile Crescent was a place of peace and brotherhood to the people of that time. It was also a place that the alphabet and some religions first arose.

Syrian Flag

Documentations

http://www.geograpic.org/maps/new2/syria_maps.html Oct.27,2003

http://www.crystalinks.com/meso.html Oct.28,2003

http://leb.net/fchp

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/flags/sy-flag.html Oct. 29,2003

http://www.geocities.com/temple-of-iarhibol/ Oct.29,2003

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