Italian Professor highlights ancient Syrian cultural heritage
Syria-Italy, Culture, 3/11/2000

"We want to cooperate with Syria, as a Mediterranean state to establish a peaceful future in which we highlight our cultural heritage," said former Italian director general of cultural properties Francesco Sisinni in a statement to ArabicNews.com.

On the sidelines of a lecture he recently delivered in Damascus under the title "Roots of culture, or the future carries an ancient heart," Professor Sisinni told ArabicNews.com that he intends to reveal the cultural roots jointly shared by Syria and Italy in the pre-Roman, the Roman and the Byzantine civilizations so as to be able to build a bright bilateral future.

He signaled that at a time when the world speaks of globalization, computers and the Internet, all doors have to be opened wide towards the future, while keeping an open mind to the glories of the past so as to build the tangible man.

He added for this reason that the roots of cultures worked out at the present time bear an ancient heart. Professor Sisinni, in this regard indicated the importance of establishing an Italian cultural center in Damascus as of great importance to both countries, Syria and Italy.

This center will be the right place for reciprocated understanding and exchanging information to get each country's acquainted with the other's legacy and ancient heritage.

On his impression of the cultural scene in Syria, Professor Sisinni said such an abundance of Syrian culture is testified in Syria's great history which is continuously growing-- past that has to be reassessed and evaluated during our present times for the basic values of human civilizations which have come from the ancient world.

He highlighted common elements that bring together the Mediterranean states: It is a multi-cultured civilization. It is an ancient and modern civilization simultaneously. And therefore it is very easy to recall all common philosophies in the Mediterranean basin which, among them, share common roots. Since the times of the Assyrians to the Egyptian, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Roman, the Byzantine and the Arabs.

Professor Sisinni also recalled what had been written by several European travelers starting from Thomas Corvat until Jacob Spon and Giorgio Berkley. Besides, and since old times, European geographers, especially Ecateo, were of the conviction Europe only enjoys the European conception.

"In our present times, we discover that our common indicator is our affiliation to the Mediterranean which is considered the cradle of civilization." Those, who have repeated the march carried out by "Paolo" who was struck by lightening on his way to Damascus, what was carried out by Giovanni Mosco and the Sufi Sofronio who were all witnesses of strong indicators of the very existence of Rome and Byzantine and all later successive civilizations, on this deeply-rooted land, which is as ancient as "Aram," professor Sisinni added.

Professor Sisinni also recalled the various archaeological discoveries which, for their part, contributed to enriching literary sources and springs.

Professor Sisinni also recalled in this context the excavation work carried out by the Italian expedition led by Paolo Mattie at the Syrian archaeological site of Ebla, northern Syria and other similar archaeological missions which brought to light an ancient rich world in Aleppo, Palmyra, Damascus and Bosra. In several cases such an ancient world is preserved amazingly as in Sergilla valley.

Mention was also given to the five Syrian Roman emperors and the eight Syrian popes (including Pope Sissinio), Saint Giovanni Damasceno, Flavio Magno, Aurelio Cassiodoro and others.

Professor Sissinni also signaled the great Syrian art than can be seen in the Syrian monuments as in the Syrian textiles. He indicated the Syrian worldwide known textiles and fabrics known as Damasco which reached high levels, especially in Italy in the 12th century.

He said that the Arab music is the core of the Gregorian singing, stating that Saint Ambrogio in the fifth century A.D. asked the Italian clergy to sing church hymns in the Syrian way.

He said if we want to have a joint Syrian- Italian program, such a program should be maintained through preserving the cultural heritage.

Noting joint ventures in this regard, Professor Sisinni said that for several years and in order to promote strong ties with certain Mediterranean universities, including the Italian Bari University, "We had a large-scale project (archaeology, underwater archaeology, environment protection, arts and sciences), together with main topics of researches on cultural trends, qualifying the sectors of cultural properties, services and the media with the aim to organize a Mediterranean festival.

Professor Sisinni concluded by saying, "This program we have prepared with great love we want to pass on to the younger generation in Syria and Italy," noting that, "Their presence will bear the future, in itself and this is only true when they understand that this future we speak about holds within itself an ancient heart."

Previous Stories:
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