Damascus, Jan. 11 (SANA) German writer and researcher Heike Weber delivered a lecture at “Zawaya” Gallery in Damascus, shedding light on Syria’s rich tradition of handicrafts, particularly embroidery, as a deeply rooted cultural identity.
Weber emphasized the resilience of intangible heritage in the Middle East, noting that while wars and disasters have destroyed much of the region’s material heritage, traditional crafts have endured as vital symbols of identity. She drew parallels with the Palestinian experience, where embroidery became a form of cultural resistance and economic survival under occupation.
Highlighting Syria’s unique role as a crossroads of civilizations, Weber pointed to ancient Egyptian manuscripts from the second millennium BC that referenced embroidered textiles from “Retnu” (ancient Syria), underscoring the antiquity of the craft. She explained that Syrian embroidery carries symbolic meanings—such as the “cross stitch” representing life and death, and the “sun stitch” linked to Baal, the Canaanite god of fertility.
Weber also shared her personal experience supervising over a thousand women in northern Syria working in embroidery, stressing its importance for local economies and cultural preservation. She referred to her book “Anat and Her Hero Baal,” written during her stay in Syria since 1982, which explores embroidery patterns across the Levant and their philosophical symbolism.
“Zawaya” Gallery director Rola Suleiman concluded by stressing the importance of cultural initiatives in safeguarding Syria’s identity, warning that much of the country’s heritage remains undocumented and must be preserved as a global treasure.
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