Maaloula Seeking to Join World Heritage List

ARAMAIC WATCH:

Syria: Maaloula Seeking to Join World Heritage List

By H. Zain (Global Arab Network)
Sunday, 30 January 2011 13:29

Syria (Damascus) - A Workshop on Restoration Project of the old city of Maaloula and expanding local participation was held in Maaloula city, 56 kms to the northeast of Damascus.

Governor of Damascus Countryside Zahed Haj Moussa said Maaloula restoration project comes in the framework of the government interest in this city because it possesses all components and potentials qualifying it to enter the World Heritage List.

[...]

Maaloula is one of the most important archeological, religious and tourists destinations in Syria where most of the sites date back to the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Maaloula in the Syriac language means the high place where the fresh air blows.

The city is distinguished by its unique architectural style as its houses were built on the versant of the mountain, and connected with each others through narrow alleys.

The Aramaic language, the language spoken by Jesus Christ, is still spoken by the Muslim and Christian inhabitants of the city along with the Arabic language.

Maaloula encompasses various monasteries such as Mar Sarkis and Mar Thecla which embraces the remains of St. Taqla (Thecla); daughter of one of Seleucid princes, and pupil of St. Paul.

[...]

More on Maaloula (Ma'aloula, Malula) here and follow the many links back. It seems that the Syrian government may be recovering from its massive spasm of lameness chronicled in the background links — although the Aramaic Institute is not mentioned explicitly.