Masaics from Omayyad Mosque at Damascus
This Syrian postage stamp was also issued in 1947 to celebrate the First Arab Archaeological Congress (1er Congrès Archéologique Arabe / المؤتمر الأول للآثار في البلاد العربية), a landmark cultural event held in Damascus. Printed in a striking deep blue ink, this stamp has a face value of 25 Piastres, indicated by "25P." in the upper-left corner and its Arabic counterpart "٢٥ ق" (Qirsh) in the upper-right. The top banner proudly reads Al-Jumhuriyah as-Suriyah (الجمهورية السورية) in Arabic script, while the bottom frame features the French text "REPUBLIQUE SYRIENNE" alongside "POSTES" and its Arabic translation Barid (بريد) on the flanks. The bottom margin credits the artist Paul Koroleff (P. Koroleff) for the design and notes it was printed by the Catholic Press in Beirut (I.C. Beyrouth).
The central illustration depicts a detailed rendering of the famous 8th-century golden mosaics found in the portico of the Great Umayyad Mosque of Damascus (Mosquée des Omayades (mosaïques) / فسيفساء الجامع الأموي). Specifically, the design captures a section of the renowned Barada panel, which illustrates large, lush trees and grand architectural pavilions along a flowing river, widely interpreted as a representation of a peaceful paradise or the city of Damascus itself. By selecting this iconic masterpiece of early Islamic art, the stamp highlighted the crown jewel of Syria's architectural preservation efforts to the regional delegates and philatelists alike.
The central illustration depicts a detailed rendering of the famous 8th-century golden mosaics found in the portico of the Great Umayyad Mosque of Damascus (Mosquée des Omayades (mosaïques) / فسيفساء الجامع الأموي). Specifically, the design captures a section of the renowned Barada panel, which illustrates large, lush trees and grand architectural pavilions along a flowing river, widely interpreted as a representation of a peaceful paradise or the city of Damascus itself. By selecting this iconic masterpiece of early Islamic art, the stamp highlighted the crown jewel of Syria's architectural preservation efforts to the regional delegates and philatelists alike.