
Lens on Syria
Description
Thousands of remarkable monuments and relics fill the land of Syria from the coast of the Mediterranean to its desert borders, dating back to the dawn of human history. The sites include Bronze Age ruins, Roman temples and necropolises, churches and monasteries from the early Christian and Byzantine eras, Muslim forts and mosques, Crusader castles, and many more. When conflict broke out in 2011, these treasures were put at great risk and in subsequent years, many were destroyed in battles—some were even the intentional targets of extremists. From 2006–2009, American photographer Daniel Demeter traveled broadly throughout Syria, documenting the country’s warm and kindhearted people, vibrant markets, exciting landscapes, archaeological sites, historic monuments, and religious architecture. In seven chapters organized by region, Lens on Syria offers a unique visual experience of pre-war Syria and serves as an invaluable record of the country’s long history, rich heritage, and diverse culture.
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Persons
Joshua Landis is director of the Center for Middle East Studies and associate professor at the University of Oklahoma’s College of International Studies. He writes Syria Comment, a daily blog on Syrian politics that attracts over 100,000 readers a month. He was educated at Swarthmore (BA), Harvard (MA), and Princeton (PhD). He has lived over fourteen years in the Middle East and speaks Arabic and French fluently. He has lived four years in Syria, and spent most summers in Damascus until the revolution began. He is a frequent consultant to government agencies and think tanks and is invited as an analyst on TV and radio.