Bab al-Saghir

This article is about one of the ancient gates to the Old City of Damascus. For the cemetery of religious significance, see Bab al-Saghir Cemetery.
Bab al-Saghir
باب الصغير
Map
33°30′22″N 36°18′23″E / 33.50611°N 36.30639°E / 33.50611; 36.30639[2]
LocationDamascus, Syria,[1] Ash-Sham
TypeGate

Bab al-Saghir (Arabic: باب الصغير, romanized: Bāb al-Ṣaghīr, lit. 'Small Gate') may refer to one of the seven gates in the Old City of Damascus, and street in the modern city of Damascus, Syria. It has qubūr (Arabic: قُبُوْر, graves) on either side of the road,[3][4] and is located in the Dimashq Neighborhood, southwest of the Umayyad Mosque.

History

The bāb (Arabic: بَاب, gate) was initially built by the Arameans, then it was dedicated to Zeus during the Seleucid era. During the Roman era, the gate was dedicated to Jupiter.[3][4] In medieval times, Bab as-Saghir was the main southern entrance into Damascus. It was refortified by General Nūr al-Dīn at around 1156 BCE (550 in Islamic years) and then later by the Ayyūbid sultans.[5] Bab as-Saghir was constructed out of mud bricks, causing it to be the weakest entrance to the city. Because of this, it is probable that during the Siege of Damascus (1148), the Crusaders planned on concentrating their forces on the gate. Before any possible plan could be implemented, Damascus's military commander (or atabeg) Mu'in al-Din Abu Mansur Anur launched large-scale attacks on the Crusaders- made up of anyone who could fight- while strengthening the fortifications. After a four-day siege, the Crusaders withdrew from Damascus.[6]

Cemetery

Main article: Bab al-Saghir Cemetery

Maqbarat al-Bāb aṣ-Ṣaghīr (Arabic: مَقْبَرَة ٱلْبَاب ٱلصَّغِيْر)[2] is the ancient cemetery, which is adjacent to the gate, and is a site of significant religious importance to Muslims.[7]

See also

Media related to Bāb Saghīr at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. ^ "Places to Visit: Damascus". Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. 2014-09-24. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  2. ^ a b Demeter, D. (2014-09-24). "Damascus – Bab al-Saghir Cemetery (دمشق – مقبرة الباب الصغير)". Syria Photo Guide. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  3. ^ a b Kramer, H. (2015-04-12). "Bab Al-Saghir Cemetery". The Complete Pilgrim. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  4. ^ a b Jowani, S. "Bab Al-Saghir". Love Damascus. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  5. ^ Mulder, Stephennie (2013). "Abdülhamid and the ʿAlids: Ottoman patronage of "Shi'i" shrines in the Cemetery of Bāb al-Ṣaghīr in Damascus". Studia Islamica. 108 (1): 16–47. ISSN 0585-5292.
  6. ^ Cartwright, Mark. "The Siege of Damascus, 1148 CE". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  7. ^ Barrani, S. "Bab Al-Saghir Cemetery". Retrieved 2018-03-12.
Old City of Damascus
Location of the Mosque in Relation to the Citadel and the Azem Palace