Window at Kasr El-Heir El-Gharbi
This Syrian stamp was issued in 1947 as an airmail denomination completing the commemorative set for the First Arab Archaeological Congress (1er Congrès Archéologique Arabe / المؤتمر الأول للآثار في البلاد العربية). Printed in a deep violet-purple ink, the stamp features a face value of 12.50 Piastres, shown within circular frames as "12P50" on the left and "١٢.٥ ق" (Qirsh) on the right. The design is topped by the state name Al-Jumhuriyah as-Suriyah (الجمهورية السورية) in elegant script, while the lower border bears the French designation "REPUBLIQUE SYRIENNE" alongside "POSTE AERIENNE" on the left and its Arabic equivalent Barid Jawwi (بريد جوي) on the right. The bottom margin attributes the artwork to artist Paul Koroleff (P. Koroleff) and notes production by the Catholic Press in Beirut (I.C. Beyrouth).
The central vignette showcases an intricate stucco window grille (Kasr El Hair El Gharbi (fenêtre) / نافذة قصر الحير الغربي) salvaged from Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi, an 8th-century Umayyad desert castle located in the Syrian Desert near Palmyra. This exquisite piece of early Islamic architecture features a complex geometric and interlaced star pattern, highlighting the advanced craftsmanship of the Umayyad caliphate under Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. By displaying this delicate, reconstructed architectural treasure—which was relocated and preserved at the National Museum of Damascus—the stamp elegantly reinforced the congress's core mission of celebrating and preserving Syria's rich, multifaceted cultural patrimony.
The central vignette showcases an intricate stucco window grille (Kasr El Hair El Gharbi (fenêtre) / نافذة قصر الحير الغربي) salvaged from Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi, an 8th-century Umayyad desert castle located in the Syrian Desert near Palmyra. This exquisite piece of early Islamic architecture features a complex geometric and interlaced star pattern, highlighting the advanced craftsmanship of the Umayyad caliphate under Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. By displaying this delicate, reconstructed architectural treasure—which was relocated and preserved at the National Museum of Damascus—the stamp elegantly reinforced the congress's core mission of celebrating and preserving Syria's rich, multifaceted cultural patrimony.