'Tartus' (, also transliterated 'Tartous') is a city in
Syria. It's the capital of
Tartus Governorate. The city was known as Antaradus in Latin or Antartus and Tortosa by the
Crusaders. Tartus is 220 km northwest of
Damascus and less than one hour drive south of
Latakia. The city hosts a Soviet-era naval supply and maintenance base, still staffed by Russian naval personnel.
Population
Tartus is the second largest port city on the Syrian coast after
Latakia and largest city in
Tartus Governorate with an estimated population of 93,000 inhabitants as of 2007.
[1]. The majority of the population is ethnic
Levantine. However, there are about 3,000 people of Greek origin who reside mainly in the town of
Al Hamidiyah just south of Tartus.
[2]
Since the start of the Iraqi War, a few thousands Iraqi nationals now reside in Tartus.
Geography and climate
The city lies on eastern coast of the
Mediterranean sea bordered by the
Alawite Mountains to the east. The island of
Arwad, the only inhabited in Syria, is located a few kilometers off the shore of Tartus.
Tartus occupies mostal a flat area, surrounded to the east by hills composed mainly of
limestone and, in certain places around the town of
Souda,
basalt.
The climate is Mediterranean, with short winter months and a moderate temperature from April to October. The hills to the east of the city create an alternative environment and climate. Tartus is known for its mild weather and high precipitation. Humidity in the summer can reach 80%.
[3]
History
Amrit (Marathus). An ancient phoenician site south of Tartus.
Phoenician Antaradus
The History of Tartus goes back to the the
2nd millennium BC when it was founded as as
Phoenician
colony of
Aradus.
[4] The colony was known as Antaradus (from
Latina ''Anti-Aradus'', meaning "The town facing Arwad"). Not much remains of the
Phoenician Antaradus, the mainland settlement that was linked to the more important and larger settlements of
Aradus, off the shore of Tartus, and the nearby site of
Amrit.
[5]
Greco-Roman and Byzantine
The city was favored by emperor
Constantine for its devotion to the cult of the
Virgin Mary. The first chapel to be dedicated to the Virgin is said to have been built here in the 3rd century.
Crusades
The ancient cathedral of Our Lady of Tartus.
In 1123 the Crusaders built the church of Our Lady of Tortosa upon this site. It now houses this altar and has received many pilgrims. The Cathedral itself was used as a mosque after the Muslim reconquest of the city, then as a barracks by the Ottomans. It was renovated under the French and is now the city museum, containing antiquities recovered from Amrit and many other sites in the region.
Nur ad-Din retrieved Tartus from the Crusaders for a brief time before it was lost again.
In 1152, Tortosa was handed to the
Knights Templar, who used it as a military headquarters. They engaged in some major building projects, constructing a castle with a large chapel and an elaborate keep, surrounded by thick double concentric walls.
[6] The Templars' mission was to protect the city and surrounding lands, some of which had been occupied by Christian settlers, from Muslim attack. The city of Tortosa was recaptured by
Saladin in 1188, and the main Templar headquarters relocated to
Cyprus. However, in Tortosa, some Templars were able to retreat into the keep, which they continued to use as a base for the next 100 years. They steadily added to its fortifications until it also fell, in 1291. Tortosa was the last outpost of the Templars on the Syrian mainland, after which they retreated to a garrison on the nearby island of Arwad, which they kept for another decade.
Economy
Tartus is an important trade center in Syria and has one of the two main ports of the country on the
Mediterranean. The city port is experiencing major expansion as a lot of
Iraqi imports come through the port of Tartus to aid
reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
The city hosts a Soviet-era naval supply and maintenance base, still staffed by
Russian naval personnel. It has been speculated that Russia may develop and enlarge the base in order to establish a stronger naval presence in the Mediterranean.
[7]
Tartus is a popular
destination for tourists. The city offers good sandy beaches and several resorts. The city enjoyed major investments in the last few years. The largest being
''Antaradus'' waterfront development.
Transportation
Tartus has a well developed road network and highways. The railway network connects Tartus to major cities in Syria, although only the Latakia-Tartus passenger connection is in service.
An international airport is fully operational at Al Basil, which is 80 kilometers north of Tartus. There is also a ferry boat link to the island of Arwad.
Main sights
The historic centre of Tartus consists of more recent buildings built on and inside the walls of the Crusader-era Templar fortress, whose moat still separates this old town from the modern city on its northern and eastern sides. Outside the fortress little historic remains can be seen, with the exception of the former cathedral of Notre-Dame of Tartus, from the 12th century. The church is now the seat of a museum.
Tartus and the surrounding area are rich in antiquities and archeological sites. Various important and well known sites are located within a 30-minute drive from Tartus.
Here is a list of some of the main attractions of the city:
★ The old city of Tartus.
★
Margat Castle, north of the city.
★ The historic Town of
Safita.
★
Arwad island and castle.
★ The ancient cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now used as the city museum.
★ Beit El Baik Palace.
★ Hosn Suleiman Temple.
★
Mashta Al Helou resort.
Famous people
★
Saadallah Wannous (1941-1997), Syrian playwright.
★
George Wassouf, singer.
★
Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali, a pre-independence Syrian
revolutionary who fought against the
French.
★ Dr.
Halim Barakat, novelist, sociologist and retired Research Professor.
[2]
★
Giana Eid, actress.
★
Rana Jammoul, film and TV actress.
Photo gallery
References
1. Syria: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population
2. Greek-Speaking Enclaves of Lebanon and Syria by Roula Tsokalidou. Proceedings ''II Simposio Internacional Bilingüismo''. Retrieved 4 December, 2006
3. Central Bureau of Statistics
4. Tartus Encyclopaedia of the Orient. Retrieved 2007, 06-26
5. History of Tartous Syria Gate. Retrieved 2007, 06-26
6. ''Lost Worlds: Knights Templar''. History Channel video documentary, first aired July 10, 2006.
7. David R. Sands, "Russia Expanding Navy into Mediterranean Sea", ''The Washington Times'', August 7, 2007.
External Links
★
Tartus City Council
★
Tartus Port
★
A Brief History of Tartus: Learn more about Tartus, Abufares 2006
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