First Day of “Preserving Heritage and Identity” Symposium at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

The scientific symposium held by Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Damascus University had participants discussing issues and themes under the title of “Preserving Heritage and Identity” which highlight the value of heritage for building the national identity and promoting the values of coexistence and cultural diversity in society.

Under the spotlight on the first day were multiple themes related to the revival of heritage and identity and cultural as well as human heritage. Participants talked about the significance of linguistic and cultural diversity to protect human heritage and called for concerted efforts on the part of universities and cultural institutions to preserve this heritage for future generations.

Dean of the Faculty of Sharia, Dr. Hassan Awad, presented a paper entitled “Religious monuments in Damascus: Reviving Heritage and Identity,” during which he pointed out the fact that the religious monuments in Syria are also emblematic of the Syrian identity.  Umayyad Mosque and historic churches, for example, contribute to highlighting cultural pluralism and coexistence. They attract tourists and enhance deep understanding of the Syrian heritage.

In a lecture entitled “Cultural Diversity and Forming Cultural Identity,” Dr. Muhammad Al-Hourani, President of the Arab Writers Union, addressed the importance of cultural diversity as a fundamental pillar in forming the cultural identity of any society. Cultural diversity enhances coexistence and understanding between various social components, leading to a more comprehensive and open society. Syria, Dr. Al-Hourani noted, is highly diverse, with a unique national identity owing to the fact that multiple civilizations “meet” on this land. Thus, he called for promoting policies to protect this feature through legislation and cultural programmes.

Another lecture entitled “Aramaic Language for Preserving Human Heritage” was given by Instructor Saada Sarhan. She emphasized the historical role of the Aramaic language for preserving human heritage and demonstrated that Aramaic is not only an ancient language but also part of the cultural history of the region. As a matter of fact, Damascus University, Ms. Sarhan pointed out, has an institute specialized in teaching this language, and that contributes to preserving the cultural identity of the indigenous people who still use it in some areas today.

Also on the second session, research papers shed light on the urban and linguistic heritage, in addition to the environmental challenges that threaten archaeological sites.