Lens on Syria: A Photographic Tour of Its Ancient and Modern Culture

Demeter, an American independent traveler who became enamored with Syria, combined his fascination for the country with his passion for photography and spent three years, from 2006 to 2009, taking the photos that fill this beautiful and timely book. While Syria looms large in the politics of the Middle East and is in the grip of a relentless war, this volume preserves a vision of a country that embraced all groups and religions and is home to significant ancient sites such as the famed Citadel of Aleppo and the Roman ruins of Palmyra. The ancient city of Bosra, a World Heritage site constructed from black volcanic stone; the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral of Forty Martyrs in Aleppo, dating from 1491 (and damaged in the current conflict); Ottoman mosques; and Crusader castles all testify to the many cultures that have influenced Syria: Armenian, Byzantine, Roman, Ottoman. In the foreword, Joshua Landis, head of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and an expert on Syrian politics, laments the situation that has driven minorities from the country and the "grinding struggle" going on today. He views this book "as an essential resource for those seeking to document and understand" Syria's monumental heritage. Color photos. (Sept.)