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Timeline

Syria through the centuries

Dated events from the in-depth pages and dated records. Approximate dates are marked.

  1. 8th/7th mill. BCUgarit – First Neolithic settlement (date varies by source).
  2. c. 6100–5400 BCETell Halaf – Floruit of the Halaf culture at the site (German Wikipedia: c. 6000–5300 BCE).
  3. c. 2900 BCMari – Founded as a new circular city on the Euphrates.
  4. mid-3rd millennium BCCitadel of Aleppo – The temple of the storm god Hadad on the hill is in use from the 24th century BC.
  5. c. 2300 BCMari – Destroyed by Sargon of Akkad (middle chronology).
  6. c. 2000 BCPalmyra – A “Tadmorean” is first named in a contract at the trading colony of Kültepe.
  7. c. 1830 BCMari – Mari becomes the seat of the Amorite Lim dynasty.
  8. c. 1765 BCUgarit – The Mari archive mentions Ugarit and a visit by Zimri-Lim.
  9. c. 1761–1759 BCMari – Conquest and destruction by Hammurabi of Babylon.
  10. c. 1600 BCAmrit – Town founded by Amorites from Arwad according to German Wikipedia; traces of settlement go back to the 3rd millennium BC.
  11. c. 1400 BCUgarit – Development of the 30-sign alphabetic cuneiform.
  12. c. 1350–1315 BCUgarit – Under Niqmaddu II Ugarit becomes a Hittite vassal.
  13. 1194–1185 BCUgarit – Destruction of the city (radiocarbon and astronomical data suggest 1192–1190 BC).
  14. 10th/9th c. BCETell Halaf – Guzana becomes the seat of Bit Bahiani; King Kapara builds the Western Palace.
  15. 808 BCETell Halaf – Guzana becomes an Assyrian province.
  16. 677 BCEJebel Aqra – A king of Tyre invokes Baal Zaphon as witness to a treaty with Assyria.
  17. 333 BCAmrit – Alexander the Great at Marathus; submission together with Arwad.
  18. c. 300 BCDura-Europos synagogue – Seleucus I founds the city of Dura-Europos.
  19. c. 300 BCDura-Europos – Founded as a Seleucid fortress.
  20. c. 300 BCApamea – Established as a city by Seleucus I Nicator.
  21. 219 BCAmrit – Marathus is independent of Arados.
  22. c. 148 BCAmrit – Sacked by Arados (English Wikipedia); German Wikipedia considers the date of destruction unknown.
  23. c. 113 BCDura-Europos – Taken by the Parthians (German Wikipedia: c. 114 BC).
  24. 64/63 BCApamea – Pompey razes the fortress; Apamea becomes Roman.
  25. 64 BCETemple of Jupiter, Damascus – Roman conquest; cult transferred to Jupiter.
  26. 27 BCELajat – By 27 BCE Rome has given Trachonitis to Herod the Great.
  27. c. 14 CETemple of Jupiter, Damascus – Temenos completed soon after the end of Augustus' reign.
  28. 32Palmyra – Dedication of the Temple of Bel (AD 32 in the English Wikipedia; the German Wikipedia gives 32 BC).
  29. 32Temple of Bel – Dedication of the temple (AD 32 per the English and Arabic Wikipedias; 32 BC per the German Wikipedia).
  30. c. 34Lajat – After Philip's death the region is incorporated into the province of Syria.
  31. c. 70Resafa – Probable foundation as a Roman outpost (German Wikipedia); English Wikipedia already names an Assyrian camp of the 9th century BC.
  32. c. 80–120Temple of Bel – Construction of the porticoes of the temple court.
  33. 2nd c.Roman Theatre at Bosra – Construction of the theatre (under Trajan per the English Wikipedia and UNESCO, under Hadrian per the Arabic Wikipedia).
  34. 106Roman Theatre at Bosra – Bosra becomes Roman and capital of the province of Arabia.
  35. 114/115Jebel Aqra – Trajan survives the Antioch earthquake; commemorative coins show the shrine of Zeus Kasios.
  36. 115Apamea – Earthquake destroys much of the city; rebuilt during the 2nd century.
  37. 129Palmyra – Hadrian visits; Palmyra becomes a free city.
  38. 130Jebel Aqra – Hadrian climbs the mountain.
  39. c. 165–200Dura-Europos synagogue – A private house is converted into a synagogue.
  40. 165Dura-Europos – Decisive Roman capture under Lucius Verus.
  41. 193–211Temple of Jupiter, Damascus – Refurbishment under Septimius Severus.
  42. c. 200Bab Sharqi – Roman Gate of the Sun built (Arabic Wikipedia: under Septimius Severus, completed under Caracalla).
  43. 244/245Dura-Europos synagogue – Last building phase, dated by an Aramaic inscription and ceiling tiles.
  44. c. 244–254Dura-Europos synagogue – The wall paintings are executed (chronology after Hopkins).
  45. 244Dura-Europos – Last phase of the synagogue, dated by inscription.
  46. 256–257Dura-Europos synagogue – Buried when the city wall is reinforced; the Sasanians capture the city.
  47. 256–257Dura-Europos – Siege and capture by Shapur I; the population is deported.
  48. 273Palmyra – After a renewed revolt Aurelian has the city razed.
  49. 273Temple of Bel – Pillaged by Aurelian's troops, then repaired.
  50. c. 312Resafa – Martyrdom of Sergius outside the fort.
  51. mid-4th c.Serjilla – Beginning of the settlement according to German Wikipedia.
  52. 363Jebel Aqra – Emperor Julian climbs the mountain and visits the sanctuary.
  53. 385–388Temple of Bel – Closed during Maternus Cynegius' campaign against the temples of the East.
  54. 391Umayyad Mosque – Theodosius I converts the Temple of Jupiter into a cathedral.
  55. 459Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – Death of Simeon Stylites; his remains are taken to Antioch.
  56. 469Norias of Hama – Mosaic from Apamea depicting a noria (German Wikipedia gives 469 BC).
  57. 473Serjilla – Dated mosaic in the bathhouse (year 784 of the Seleucid era).
  58. 476–490Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – Construction of the church complex (another account gives 473 as the start), completed 490.
  59. 481–1251Roman Theatre at Bosra – Gradual fortification of the theatre.
  60. 515Lajat – Martyrium of Saint George replaces the temple of Zorava (Izra').
  61. 518Resafa – Construction of Basilica B begins, according to its building inscription.
  62. mid-6th c.Qasr ibn Wardan – Built under Justinian I as part of a defensive line against the Sasanians.
  63. 540Apamea – Surrender to the Sasanian king Khosrow I.
  64. 543Resafa – Siege by the Sasanian king Khosrau I.
  65. 547 (tradition)Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery – Founded by Emperor Justinian I according to tradition.
  66. 562–564Qasr ibn Wardan – Dates on the upper windows of church and palace.
  67. 586Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – First documentary mention of a monastery (foundation assumed in the 6th century).
  68. 592Jebel Aqra – Death of Simeon Stylites the Younger after forty years on a pillar on the northern flank.
  69. 613Apamea – Taken by the Sasanians (Arabic Wikipedia: 612).
  70. 634 (or 636)Umayyad Mosque – Muslim conquest of Damascus; a Muslim prayer room is set up in the south-eastern part of the cathedral.
  71. 18 Sep 634Bab Sharqi – Khalid ibn al-Walid enters Damascus through the gate (per German Wikipedia).
  72. 636Resafa – The city is lost to the Byzantines.
  73. 638Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – The monastery passes to the Miaphysites.
  74. 640Arwad Castle – Taken by the Arabs (according to the Arabic Wikipedia).
  75. 680 (61 AH)Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque – Battle of Karbala; according to Shia tradition Ruqayya subsequently dies in captivity in Damascus.
  76. 706–711/715Umayyad Mosque – Construction of the congregational mosque under al-Walid I; completed in 711 or 715.
  77. 706Temple of Jupiter, Damascus – Al-Walid I orders the construction of the Umayyad Mosque.
  78. 715–717Great Mosque of Aleppo – First mosque built under al-Walid I and Sulayman (according to later tradition).
  79. 724–743Resafa – Residence of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik; palaces and the Great Mosque built.
  80. c. 728/729Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – Built under Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.
  81. 762Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – The capital moves to Baghdad; gradual decline of the site.
  82. 772–775City walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Al-Rafiqah and its wall built under al-Mahdi (German Wikipedia: 771–775; al-Mansur's decision 770–1 per English Wikipedia).
  83. 796–808/809City walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Raqqa/al-Rafiqah residence of Harun al-Rashid; outer wall added 796–806 (German Wikipedia).
  84. 834Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Oldest surviving inscription in the synagogue.
  85. 884–5City walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Al-Sarakhsi describes parts of the walls as ruined.
  86. 962Citadel of Aleppo – After the Byzantine sack, the Hamdanids move their palace into the citadel.
  87. 975Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Captured by Emperor John I Tzimiskes.
  88. 985/986Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – Sack by the Hamdanid commander Qarghuya; the sources give both 985 and 986.
  89. 1031Krak des Chevaliers – The Mirdasid emir settles a Kurdish garrison; the name Hisn al-Akrad.
  90. 1058Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – Church rebuilt according to inscriptions; first fresco layer begins.
  91. 1062Margat – First fortification of the site; the sources name different builders.
  92. 1069Umayyad Mosque – A fire during an uprising against the Fatimid garrison destroys large sections, especially the north wall.
  93. 1086Qal'at Ja'bar – Taken by Malik-Shah I and granted to the Uqaylids.
  94. 1090–1094Great Mosque of Aleppo – Construction of the minaret.
  95. 1099Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Frankish capture of Tortosa in the First Crusade.
  96. 12th c.Arwad Castle – Central fortress dated stylistically to the Ayyubid period (UNESCO).
  97. 12th c.Bab Sharqi – Partly walled up under Nur ad-Din; central opening turned into a bent entrance, minaret added.
  98. 1104Margat – Captured by Byzantine forces.
  99. c. 1108Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Passes to the Crusader Principality of Antioch.
  100. 1123 / 2nd quarter 12th c.Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Construction of the cathedral begins (UNESCO: 1123; German Wikipedia: second quarter of the 12th century).
  101. 526 AHSayyidah Ruqayya Mosque – First structure over the grave, attributed to an Ayyubid sultan.
  102. 1132Temple of Bel – The temple precinct is turned into a citadel.
  103. 12th c.Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – The larger tower is rebuilt, probably after the earthquakes of 1138 and 1157.
  104. 1141Masyaf Castle – Captured by the Nizaris.
  105. 1142Krak des Chevaliers – Raymond II of Tripoli hands the castle to the Knights Hospitaller.
  106. 1146Qal'at Ja'bar – Zengi murdered during the siege.
  107. 1149Apamea – Nur al-Din recaptures the citadel from the Crusaders.
  108. 2nd half 12th c.?City walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Probable date of the Baghdad Gate according to Hillenbrand (Warren: 10th/11th c.; English Wikipedia: late 11th or 12th c.).
  109. 1152–1291Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Templar rule over the town.
  110. after 1157Norias of Hama – Nur al-Din repairs the water system and norias after an earthquake.
  111. 1159/1169Great Mosque of Aleppo – Restoration by Nur al-Din after a great fire (date disputed).
  112. 1166–1193Masyaf Castle – Rashid ad-Din Sinan rules from Masyaf.
  113. 1168Qal'at Ja'bar – Taken over and rebuilt by Nur ad-Din.
  114. 1170Krak des Chevaliers – An earthquake damages the castle, ending the first building phase.
  115. May 1176Masyaf Castle – Siege by Saladin, ended by a truce.
  116. 1186Margat – Bertrand Mazoir sells the castle to the Knights Hospitaller.
  117. July 1188Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Taken by Saladin after a short siege.
  118. 1188Margat – Saladin passes the castle without attacking it.
  119. 1193–1215Citadel of Aleppo – Rebuilding under al-Zahir Ghazi; the entrance block is rebuilt in 1213.
  120. 1193Mausoleum of Saladin – Saladin dies in Damascus and is first buried in the Citadel.
  121. 1195/1196Mausoleum of Saladin – Transfer to the mausoleum built by al-Afdal (592 AH = 1195 per German/Arabic sources; built 1196 per English Wikipedia).
  122. 593 AHMausoleum of Saladin – Al-Aziz Uthman adds the al-Aziziyya Madrasa (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  123. 13th c.Mount Qasioun – Al-Harawi reports the tradition that forty prophets died of hunger at the Cave of Hunger.
  124. early 13th c.Krak des Chevaliers – Expansion into a concentric castle with an outer wall.
  125. 13th c.Roman Theatre at Bosra – Expansion into an Ayyubid citadel with nine towers and a moat.
  126. 1202Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Earthquake damage, soon repaired.
  127. 1208Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – Latest dated fresco layer.
  128. 1213Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Raymond, son of Bohemond IV, is killed in the cathedral.
  129. 1258City walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Raqqa and Rafiqa devastated by the Mongols (UNESCO; English Wikipedia: invasions of the 1260s).
  130. 1260Great Mosque of Aleppo – Razed by the Mongols.
  131. 1260sCathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Fortified against the Mamluks.
  132. 1260Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Mongol invasion; according to the English Wikipedia one of six designated safe havens.
  133. 1260Masyaf Castle – Surrendered to the Mongols, recovered the same year.
  134. 1269Resafa – The inhabitants flee from the Mongols to Salamiyya.
  135. Feb 1270Masyaf Castle – Taken by Sultan Baybars.
  136. 1271Krak des Chevaliers – Captured by Sultan Baibars; surrender on 8 April.
  137. 1272Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Handed over to the Mamluk sultan Baibars.
  138. 1285Great Mosque of Aleppo – New mihrab under Sultan Qalawun.
  139. 17 April – 23 May 1285Margat – Siege and surrender to Sultan Qalawun.
  140. 1287Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Sunqur al-Ashqar surrenders the castle to Sultan Qalawun.
  141. 1291Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – Templars leave; conversion into a mosque under the Mamluks.
  142. early 14th c.Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – The site is abandoned.
  143. Sep 1302Arwad Castle – Templars on the island surrender to the Mamluks.
  144. 1361Norias of Hama – Noria al-Muhammadiya built (inscription: AH 763).
  145. 768 AHSayyidah Ruqayya Mosque – A small dome is built over the tomb.
  146. 1400–1401Citadel of Aleppo – Destroyed during Timur's invasion.
  147. 1400Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Destroyed during Timur's invasion.
  148. 1400Palmyra – Devastation by Timur; Palmyra is reduced to a village.
  149. 1401Umayyad Mosque – Timur has the city burned; the eastern minaret and central dome collapse.
  150. 1405–1418Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Rebuilt on a reduced scale.
  151. 1415Citadel of Aleppo – Rebuilding under the Mamluk governor Sayf al-Din Jakam.
  152. 1453Norias of Hama – Noria al-Ma'muriya built.
  153. 1488Umayyad Mosque – Sultan Qaitbay builds the south-western minaret.
  154. 1556Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – Renewal of the monastery (16th-century rebuilding).
  155. 1707Jabal al-Druze – Druze clans begin migrating to the mountain during a civil war in Lebanon (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  156. 1745Temple of Jupiter, Damascus – Plan of the compound published by Richard Pococke.
  157. 1749/1750Al-Azm Palace – Built as the residence of governor As'ad Pasha al-Azm (date varies by source).
  158. 1751–1753Khan As'ad Pasha – Built by As'ad Pasha al-Azm (date varies by source).
  159. 1756Convent of Saint Thecla – Monastery and church of St John the Baptist rebuilt.
  160. 1759Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery – Partly damaged by an earthquake.
  161. 1808Masyaf Castle – Ismaili emir killed and castle temporarily seized.
  162. 1822Citadel of Aleppo – A severe earthquake; afterwards only soldiers live in the citadel.
  163. 1822Kurd Mountain – Earthquake of about magnitude 7.3 centred on Kurd Dagh (13 August).
  164. c. 1850Al-Safa – A boiling lava lake is observed (en: mid-19th century, ar: 1850).
  165. 1857Al-Safa – Discovery of inscriptions in the script later called Safaitic.
  166. 1860sSerjilla – First scientific study by Melchior de Vogüé.
  167. 1860Amrit – Excavations by Ernest Renan.
  168. 1860Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery – Possible damage during the riots.
  169. 1864Hejaz railway station, Damascus – First idea of a railway to the Hejaz (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  170. 1864/1865City walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Ottoman garrison post in the south-east corner of the enclosure; start of the modern town.
  171. 1868Lajat – Fighting between Druze settlers and the Sulut Bedouin.
  172. 1883Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery – Only the apse of the medieval church survives.
  173. 1884Margat – The seat of the Ottoman kaymakam moves to Baniyas.
  174. 1893Umayyad Mosque – Fire destroys the interior of the prayer hall; nine-year Ottoman rebuilding follows.
  175. 1895/1896Al-Sabil Park – Opened under the wali Raif Pasha (1895 per English Wikipedia, AH 1315/1896 per Arabic Wikipedia).
  176. 1898Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower – Foundation stone laid under governor Raif Pasha (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  177. 1898Mausoleum of Saladin – Visit of Emperor Wilhelm II; wreath laid, marble sarcophagus donated (German/Arabic sources).
  178. 1898Al-Azm Palace – Visit by Emperor Wilhelm II.
  179. 1899–1905Serjilla – Visits by the Princeton expedition under Howard Crosby Butler.
  180. 1899Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower – Tower completed.
  181. 1899Tell Halaf – Discovery by Max von Oppenheim.
  182. 1900Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower – Inauguration for the 25th anniversary of Abdul Hamid II's accession (per English Wikipedia).
  183. early 20th c.Mausoleum of Saladin – Governor Ziya Pasha turns the ruined madrasa into a garden.
  184. 1904Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower – Bab al-Faraj gate demolished except its southern tower (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  185. 1323 AHSayyidah Ruqayya Mosque – Renovation by Ali Asghar Khan, grand vizier of Iran.
  186. 1906Convent of Saint Thecla – Church built at the grotto over an older one.
  187. 1907Hejaz railway station, Damascus – Station put into operation.
  188. 1909Hejaz railway station, Damascus – Frequent trains between Damascus and Medina.
  189. 1911–1913, 1927–1929Tell Halaf – Oppenheim's excavations; finds divided between Aleppo and Berlin.
  190. 1913Hejaz railway station, Damascus – Passenger building by Fernando de Aranda commissioned.
  191. 1915Arwad Castle – Island occupied by the French navy.
  192. 1917Hejaz railway station, Damascus – Service on the Hejaz line ceases (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  193. 1919National Museum of Damascus – Museum founded, first housed in the al-Adiliyya Madrasa.
  194. 30 March 1920Dura-Europos – British soldiers uncover wall paintings in the Temple of Bel.
  195. 1920/1922Al-Azm Palace – Family wing sold to the French Mandate authorities.
  196. 1921Qal'at Ja'bar – Treaty of Ankara: Suleyman Shah tomb area becomes a Turkish exclave.
  197. 1921Temple of Jupiter, Damascus – Plan by Wulzinger and Watzinger (peribolos c. 350 × 450 m).
  198. 1921–1936Jabal al-Druze – Jabal Druze State, an autonomous unit of the French Mandate.
  199. 1922Kurd Mountain – State of Aleppo census: 21,823 inhabitants in the kaza of Kurd Dagh.
  200. 1925Arwad Castle – Faris al-Khuri imprisoned in the fortress.
  201. 1925Al-Azm Palace – Severe fire damage during the French shelling of the old city.
  202. 1927Euphrates Lake – First, unrealised plans for a Euphrates dam in Syria.
  203. 1927Euphrates Dam – First proposal for a Euphrates dam under the French Mandate.
  204. 1928Ugarit – Chance discovery of a tomb at Minet el-Beida.
  205. 1928–1937Dura-Europos – Excavations by Yale University with the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres.
  206. 1929–2011Ugarit – Excavations by the French, from 2005 French-Syrian, mission, paused 1939–1950; halted by the civil war in 2011.
  207. 1929Temple of Bel – Henri Seyrig begins excavating Palmyra with the Temple of Bel.
  208. 1930–1938Apamea – Belgian excavations under Franz Cumont.
  209. 1932Dura-Europos synagogue – Uncovered by the Yale-French team under Clark Hopkins.
  210. 1932Palmyra – Relocation of the inhabitants to Tadmur is completed, freeing the ancient site for excavation.
  211. 1932Kurd Mountain – French estimate: about 43,000 inhabitants in the kaza of Kurd Dagh.
  212. 1933Krak des Chevaliers – Transfer to France, relocation of the inhabitants, followed by restoration.
  213. 14 December 1933Mari – French excavations begin.
  214. 1935Convent of Saint Thecla – Present convent building begun.
  215. 1936National Museum of Damascus – Present building erected next to the Takiyya (Arabic Wikipedia: first section opened).
  216. 1937Jabal al-Druze – Renamed “Jabal al-Arab” (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  217. November 1943Tell Halaf – Tell Halaf Museum in Berlin destroyed in an air raid.
  218. after 1946Arwad Castle – Converted into a local museum.
  219. 1946Kurd Mountain – The area becomes part of independent Syria (per German Wikipedia).
  220. 1947–1970Roman Theatre at Bosra – Clearance and substantial restoration.
  221. 1 Dec 1947Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Looted and burned in the Aleppo pogrom.
  222. 24 Feb 1947Al-Sabil Park – Reopened on 24 February after complete renovation by governor Mustafa al-Shihabi.
  223. 1950National Museum of Damascus – Official opening after installation of the Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi façade (per English Wikipedia).
  224. 1951Al-Azm Palace – Purchased by the Syrian government.
  225. 1952Resafa – Excavations funded by the German Archaeological Institute begin.
  226. 1953Ghab Plain – Start of the Ghab drainage and irrigation project.
  227. 1954Amrit – Excavations by Maurice Dunand and Nassib Saliby; the temple is cleared by 1957.
  228. 13 Sep 1954Al-Azm Palace – Opening of the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.
  229. 1956Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa – The building becomes the National Museum of Tartus.
  230. 1957–1965Euphrates Lake – Financing agreements with the Soviet Union (1957, 1965) and West Germany (1960).
  231. 1959Convent of Saint Thecla – Second floor added.
  232. 1960sBab Sharqi – Restoration of the large façade.
  233. 1960Norias of Hama – The Rastan dam lowers the river; the norias stand idle for months.
  234. 1961Ghab Plain – Mahardah dam built.
  235. 1963–1974Euphrates Lake – International archaeological rescue excavations in the future reservoir area.
  236. 1964–1971/72Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – Excavations under Oleg Grabar (end date 1971 or 1972 depending on the source).
  237. 1965–1974Qal'at Ja'bar – Excavation, restoration, glacis and causeway.
  238. 1968–1973Euphrates Lake – Construction of the dam.
  239. 1968Ghab Plain – Plain fully drained; land for 11,000 families.
  240. 1968–1973Euphrates Dam – Construction of the dam with Soviet assistance (March 1968 to 1974 according to the German Wikipedia).
  241. 1970s/1980sCity walls of al-Rafiqah and Baghdad Gate – Outer wall and moat bulldozed for new construction.
  242. 1973Qal'at Ja'bar – Tomb relocated; the castle becomes Syrian territory.
  243. 1974Euphrates Lake – Flooding begins; the lake is created.
  244. 1974–1975Euphrates Dam – Filling of the reservoir; dispute with Iraq over the water flow, settled in 1975 through Saudi and Soviet mediation.
  245. 1975Euphrates Lake – Dispute with Iraq over the river's flow, settled through Saudi and Soviet mediation.
  246. 1977Kurd Mountain – Renamed “Jabal al-Uruba” by decree 15801.
  247. 8 March 1978Euphrates Dam – Completion of the hydroelectric power station.
  248. 1980Roman Theatre at Bosra – Ancient City of Bosra inscribed on the World Heritage List.
  249. 1980 (1399 AH)Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque – Expansion into a complex of about 4,000 m² begins.
  250. 1980Palmyra – Inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  251. 1980sGhab Plain – Road link to the coast via Beit Yashout.
  252. 1981Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – All but one room on the upper terrace have collapsed; the chapel still stands.
  253. 1983Al-Azm Palace – Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the restoration.
  254. 1984–1991Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – Rebuilding under Paolo Dall'Oglio with volunteers.
  255. 1985Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque – The mosque is built around the mausoleum (per the English Wikipedia).
  256. 1990–1992Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Reconstruction funded by the Syrian Jewish community of New York.
  257. 1991/1992Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian – Monastic community refounded under the Syriac Catholic Church (sources give 1991 or 1992).
  258. 1996Ghab Plain – Zeyzoun Dam built.
  259. 8 June 1999Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – Added to the UNESCO Tentative List.
  260. 1999Ugarit – Added to Syria's UNESCO Tentative List.
  261. 1999Mari – Proposed for the UNESCO Tentative List.
  262. 1999Norias of Hama – Added to Syria's UNESCO Tentative List.
  263. 2000sMausoleum of Saladin – Restoration of the square around the tomb (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  264. 2000–2005Masyaf Castle – Restoration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
  265. 2000Euphrates Lake – 124,000 hectares irrigated – 19% of the planned area.
  266. 2001Umayyad Mosque – Pope John Paul II visits the shrine of John the Baptist, the first papal visit to a mosque.
  267. June 2002Ghab Plain – Zeyzoun Dam failure: 22 dead, over 2,000 displaced, 80 km² flooded.
  268. 2002Al-Safa – Study identifies Tulul al-Safa as the youngest of 13 regional lava flows.
  269. 2004/2006Amrit – Included on the World Monuments Fund watch lists.
  270. 2006Krak des Chevaliers – UNESCO World Heritage together with Qal'at Salah El-Din.
  271. 2006Tell Halaf – New Syro-German excavations begin.
  272. 2006Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Inscribed as a World Heritage Site together with Krak des Chevaliers.
  273. from 2006Temple of Jupiter, Damascus – Temple remains uncovered in front of the mosque's southern gate (per Arabic Wikipedia).
  274. 2006Norias of Hama – Al-Muhammadiya designated an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
  275. 2006/2007Al-Sabil Park – Musical water fountain installed (2006 per Arabic, May 2007 per English Wikipedia).
  276. 2006Lajat – Ministerial decree no. 144/T of 31 May declares the Lajat a protected area.
  277. 2007Margat – Some reconstruction and renovation begins.
  278. May 2009Lajat – Designated Syria's first UNESCO biosphere reserve.
  279. 2010Jabal al-Druze – Suwayda Governorate: about 375,000 inhabitants, 90% Druze.
  280. 2011Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – Inscribed as part of the World Heritage property “Ancient Villages of Northern Syria”.
  281. 2011Serjilla – Inscription of the World Heritage property “Ancient Villages of Northern Syria”.
  282. 2011–2024Mount Qasioun – Military use by government forces; public access restricted.
  283. 2011Tell Halaf – Restored sculptures exhibited at the Pergamon Museum, Berlin.
  284. 2011Mari – Excavations stop; large-scale looting begins.
  285. 2011–2014Dura-Europos – Systematic looting, chiefly by the Islamic State.
  286. 2011–2015Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Damaged again during the civil war under unclear circumstances.
  287. 2011Al-Azm Palace – New exhibition halls opened.
  288. 13 Oct 2012Great Mosque of Aleppo – Seriously damaged in fighting.
  289. 2012–2014Krak des Chevaliers – War damage from shelling and air strikes; recaptured by government forces in March 2014.
  290. 2012–2015Citadel of Aleppo – War damage: shelling of the outer gate in 2012, tunnel explosion under the outer wall in 2015.
  291. 2012Jebel Aqra – Turkish military base built on the summit; remains of the cult site presumed destroyed.
  292. 2012National Museum of Damascus – Closure because of the civil war; more than 300,000 artefacts hidden.
  293. 15 March 2012Apamea – Artillery fire hits the colonnade; extensive looting follows.
  294. Feb 2012Wadi Barada – Rebels capture Ain al-Fijah; government forces then blockade the villages.
  295. 2013Khan As'ad Pasha – The Ancient City of Damascus is placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
  296. 2013Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – Placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
  297. 2013Serjilla – Placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
  298. 2013Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – Captured by armed groups; looting and vandalism.
  299. 24 Apr 2013Great Mosque of Aleppo – Collapse of the minaret.
  300. 2013Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – Placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
  301. 3 Dec 2013Convent of Saint Thecla – Maaloula captured, nuns abducted; convent looted.
  302. 2013Roman Theatre at Bosra – Placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (per UNESCO; the articles on the Ancient City give 2017).
  303. 11 February 2013Euphrates Dam – Opposition forces capture the dam.
  304. possibly 2014Dura-Europos synagogue – The remains of the synagogue on site apparently destroyed.
  305. 2014Qal'at Ja'bar – Captured by ISIS.
  306. 9 Mar 2014Convent of Saint Thecla – Nuns released.
  307. 8 Aug 2014Norias of Hama – The upper part of the al-Ja'bariya wheel is burned.
  308. 2014Euphrates Dam – The Islamic State takes control.
  309. 2015–2017Palmyra – IS occupation; destruction of the Temples of Bel and Baalshamin, the Monumental Arch and the tetrapylon, among others.
  310. 2015Temple of Bel – Blown up by IS (30 August), confirmed by satellite imagery (31 August).
  311. May 2016Church of Saint Simeon Stylites – An air strike damages the remains of the column and the ruins.
  312. since 2016Central Synagogue of Aleppo – Restoration by the Sephardic Heritage Museum; further earthquake damage in 2023.
  313. 22 August 2017Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi – Recaptured by the Syrian Army.
  314. 6 Jan 2017Qal'at Ja'bar – Taken by the SDF.
  315. March–May 2017Euphrates Dam – US air strike on 26 March stops the dam; emergency repairs and opening of floodgates; the SDF take control on 10 May.
  316. Jan 2017Wadi Barada – The army retakes Ain al-Fijah on 28 January and takes full control of the valley on 29 January.
  317. spring 2018Mari – Mari is considered the most looted site in Syria.
  318. 8 Feb 2018Qasr ibn Wardan – Recaptured from ISIS by the Syrian Arab Army.
  319. Aug 2018Convent of Saint Thecla – Reopened after repairs.
  320. 29 Oct 2018National Museum of Damascus – Four of five wings reopen.
  321. 17 Nov 2018Al-Safa – Government forces take control of the last ISIL pocket in Suwayda on 17 November.
  322. May 2019Serjilla – Missile strikes damage the western part.
  323. 2023–2024Citadel of Aleppo – Earthquake damage in February 2023; reopening on 17 February 2024 after restoration of the southern advance tower.
  324. February 2023Citadel of Salah Ed-Din – A fortified tower is destroyed in the earthquake.
  325. February 2023Margat – Damaged in the earthquake.
  326. Dec 2024Mount Qasioun – Access restrictions end with the end of Assad rule.
  327. 2024–2025National Museum of Damascus – Closed on 7 December 2024, reopened on 8 January 2025.
  328. 2025Dura-Europos synagogue – For the first time in decades a delegation of scholars from abroad sees the paintings in Damascus.
  329. November 2025National Museum of Damascus – Theft of six Roman-era marble statues from the classical department.
  330. Oct 2026Great Mosque of Aleppo – Full reopening after restoration.
  331. May 2026Euphrates Lake – Water level reaches 97%; flooding downstream.
  332. January 2026Euphrates Dam – Government forces take control (17 or 18 January depending on the source).

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