Ma‘arat al-Nu‘man

Northern Syria is a landscape of ancient cities, many of them long since abandoned to the desert, but others still going concerns. As the campaign in Idlib Governorate continues, we are reminded of its deep history.

Yesterday Syrian forces were massing around the town of Ma‘arat al-Nu‘man after clearing Jisr al-Shughur, presumably preparing to move in.

This ancient city is known historically for an earlier atrocity, and for its most famous son.

The atrocity, in 1098, occurred when after a long siege Crusaders in the First Crusade, after granting terms to the town, not only massacred the inhabitants, but, starved for supplies, famously resorted to cannibalism, even by the Crusaders' own testimony. Rarely mentioned by Western histories (though it was admitted at the time), it was not forgotten in Syria.


But fortunately, Ma‘arat al-Nu‘man is famous for another reason: the great poet/philosopher Abu al-‘Ala' al-Ma‘ari (973-1058 AD), known for his poetry and his freethinking philosophy, came from there.

Let's hope whatever is coming is more in keeping with the poet's vision than the Crusaders'.