Antiquity & Folklore   Lattakia Ugarit Castle Saladin Tartous Arwad Island Amrit Al-Marqab Citadel   The museum that has now been arranged inside the cathedral is of recent design and gives a careful display of a selection of objects found locally or at the great sites along the Syrian coast: in the right aisle, remote antiquity; in the central nave, the Islamic period; in the left aisle, recent folklore. Antiquity Ugarit-Ras-Shamra showcase (site near Lattakia); Tal Soukas showcase; bigger showcases for finds made at Amrit (the site is attached to Tartous): lamps, small statues, human figures from the 4th century B.C., prettily draped busts, Venus in terracotta, bronzes, surgical instruments of the Greek-Roman period, etc. In the central apse, a monumental sarcophagus ornamented with rose garlands, pine-needles, representations of Eros, dating from the 2nd century A.D. (rather craftsmanship). Islamic porcelain, faience, terracotta, glassware, mosaics. Chiefly floral decoration with the pomegranate as the predominate motif. Christian In the left apse, a medieval fresco found in the chapel of the Crac des Chevaliers. Folklore In this area with a seafaring tradition, the objects collected here are mainly to do with the sea, fishing and navigation: shells, madreporse, fish models of ships and sailing boats, fishing-nets and fishermen’s clothing; there is an earthenware crater 1.20 meter tall used for carrying wine. There are posters describing the importance of the Isle Aradus (Arwad) for trade and transport in Canaanaean times. As a self-governing kingdom, the island also provided a place of refuge for the peoples of the coast at the time of the Assyrian invasions and the refugees were made responsible for keeping the people of Aradus supplied with drinking water. The port and the city that were thus in close relation with the island did not in fact stand on the site of the present Tartous, but occupied a section of the coast 10 km further south; they have gone down in history by the name of Amrit in Cananaean times and later, under Greek influence: Marathos.
© UR Travel 2006