Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Syria

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Syria.

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Did You Know?

17 curious facts about Syria.

Syria is part of an area known as the Levant, which also includes Lebanon. Levant means “rising” in French, and refers to the sunrise, because these countries are east of the Mediterranean. The word came into use during the 1920s and 1930s, when the French ruled Syria and Lebanon.
Lake Al Assad is an artificial lake created by the Tabaqah Dam. Syria has two natural lakes: Arram, which fills the crater of an extinct volcano, and Mzerib.
In the 3rd century A.D., the powerful Queen Zenobia of Palmyra ruled Syria after the death of her husband the king. Her armies controlled all of Syria and some of the surrounding area. The Romans fought against her and eventually defeated her. She was taken to Rome where she ended her days..
When a Muslim person dies, he or she must be buried within 24 hours, dressed only in a shroud.

The traditional water wheels, known as norias or nawaeers, are used to irrigate Syria’s farmland. Lack of water is one of the main causes of economic problems in Syria.
The Syrian government encourages the making of handicrafts by offering workshops, equipment and other incentives to craft workers. Syrian jewellery, woodwork and carpets are admired throughout the world.
Ghada Shouaa, a Syrian athlete, won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 for the heptathlon. This competition for women includes seven events: hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-metre sprint, long jump, javelin throwing, and 800-metre sprint.
The Syrian government is trying to prevent diseases caused by smoking. Smoking is officially prohibited in government buildings and on public transportation. Nevertheless, it is still very common in Syria.
Most young men must do compulsory military service for two and a half years after they turn 18.
It is not unusual for a host to insist that a guest keep eating until everything on the table is finished. There is an Arab saying that the quantity eaten by a guest reflects his or her affection for the host.