13/04/2021 by Sarah Amawi This huge and complex heritage site has witnessed several civilizations throughout history from Romans to Arabs and Persians Palmyra is one of the most iconic world heritage sites. ‘Historically established around the third millennium B.C., acting as a major trading path on the infamous Silk Road’,[1] Palmyra – otherwise known as...
05/01/2021 by Jonathan Bentham The Sultanate of Oman lies at the south-eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Roughly half of its borders are made up of coastline, yet it frequently ranks as one of the driest and most arid countries on Earth. In 2014, the Sultanate of Oman ranked 12th amongst the driest countries in...
23/09/2020 by Yara Ritz, Associate Researcher (Lebanon) Elected general quarters of partying, the neighbourhoods of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael are revealing examples: it is in these very dynamic districts that people, whether young or less young, Lebanese or foreigners, used to meet and hang out. As a symbol of Beirut’s cosmopolite life, they have nonetheless...
05/10/2020 by Servane Hardouin The murals represented various objects and landscapes seen by the pilgrim on his way to the sacred city; more precisely, they either evoked the pilgrimage directly, or they set its cultural and natural background An interesting feature of Egyptian culture is the hajj murals, colourful paintings decorating the walls of many...
09/09/2020 by Elie Saad, Local observer Paris of the Middle East or a Warzone A melting pot or a racially and sectarian divided city Switzerland of the East or capital of a ponzi scheme At least is was a city… As I am writing this article, trying to force myself to work in order to...
02/09/2020 by Elie Saad Light by itself had always guided us and served as a beacon both physically and spiritually. From the dawn of time and up until our modern civilization, the night sky has always fascinated mankind. This grimdark sheet, punctuated by tiny light rays beaming hundreds of thousands of light-years away, nurtured our...
29/07/2020 by Ala’a Baroun, Observer from Kuweit The new restrictions, social distancing, curfews and lockdowns imposed around the world in response to the pandemic highlighted how intangible heritage has a social, economic and psychological role in our lives. Ala’a Baroun We are living in a time where a pandemic has largely impacted our lives in...
26th June 2020 by Shyrine Ziadeh “It is our folklore, from my culture, my heritage. In the camp in Syria, while I used to dance Dabkeh I was a happy kid… Oh this music! It reminded me of the inner peace I had back then.” Said Israa a lady in her 20’s, during a break...
Le 24/06/2020 by Muntadher Aloda « Come, I will take you to Uruk, to the sacred temple, home of Anu and Ishtar, where Gilgamesh is perfect in strength, like a wild bull lording it over the menfolk. » The Epic of Gilgamesh I was raised near ancient cities, loved the dust of the surrounding deserts and held...
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