Marjeh Square

33°30′46″N 36°17′53″E / 33.5128°N 36.2980°E / 33.5128; 36.2980ConstructionCompletionlate nineteenth century

Marjeh Square (Arabic: ساحة المرجة, romanized: sāḥat al-Marjah), also known as "Martyrs' Square" (ساحة الشهداء sāḥat ash-Shuhadā’), is a square in central Damascus, Syria, just outside the walls of the old city. The Syrian Interior Ministry has its headquarters in the square.

History

The square was built by the Ottomans in the late nineteenth century. A new post office and municipality were built there using steel and cement, new materials for Damascus at that time.^[1] The Ottomans publicly executed seven Syrian national activists in the square on Martyrs' Day, 6 May 1916, and it is for this reason known as "Martyrs' Square". After the French took control of Syria they continued to use the square for the same purpose. Fakhri Hassan al-Kharrat, son of the Great Syrian Revolt leader Hasan al-Kharrat, was hanged there in 1925–26.^[2] On 18 May 1965, Israeli spy Eli Cohen was publicly hanged in Marjeh Square.^[3]

• 
  The Post Office building in Marjeh Square in 1890
• 
  Public hanging in Marjeh Square during the Arab Revolt in 1916–1918
• 
  The Telegraph Column in 1950
• 
  Eli Cohen publicly hanged in Marjeh Square on 18 May 1965
• 
  Marjeh Square in 2009

References

Historic and
other landmarksMadrasas and takiyyasMosquesChurches

Catholic	Chapel of Saint Ananias Chapel of Saint Paul Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Saint Paul
Eastern Orthodox	Mariamite Cathedral
Oriental Orthodox	Syriac Cathedral of Saint George

Historic gatesSouqs and caravanseraisCulture and
educationEntertainmentStreets and squaresNatureSport

Venues	Abbasiyyin Stadium Al-Fayhaa Sports Complex Al-Fayhaa Stadium Al-Jalaa Stadium Tishreen Stadium Al-Muhafaza Stadium Al-Fayhaa Sports Arena
Clubs	Al-Jaish SC Al-Majd SC Al-Muhafaza SC Al-Nidal SC Al-Shorta SC Al-Wahda SC Barada SC

Municipal districtsTimeline
(List of rulers)