Illustrated Syria

Title

Illustrated Syria

Description

Poster showing a map of Syria with Roman and Arabic script. Features many typical images of the country, such as the local people, flora and fauna, important buildings, ships, aeroplanes and a partial map of Syria. Copyright by Dr Y. Samara, Damascus. "Illustrated Syria" was a well-known publication from the 19th century that provided a visual and detailed insight into Syria at the time. These types of publications were part of a larger trend in the Western world to document the Orient, specifically the Middle East region. They were often created by Western travelers, missionaries, archaeologists, or explorers and pursued both artistic and scientific goals.

ca. 1960

Artist

Samman (c.1915-c.1970)

J. P. Samman was a publisher and bookseller in Damascus who produced several decorative, illustrated maps of the Middle East during the 1940s–1960s. His maps combined geographic information with artistic illustrations and were aimed especially at travelers, diplomats, and international visitors. In the 1950s, Syria became increasingly open to international tourism, diplomats, and businesspeople. Illustrated maps such as “Illustrated Syria” served as representative gifts and as a visual cultural introduction to the country. After the end of the French Mandate, Syria sought to emphasize its own history and cultural diversity. On his maps, Samman prominently depicted ancient sites (Palmyra, Bosra, Ugarit), religious and historical monuments, agriculture, industry, and modern infrastructure (bridges, dams, railways). In doing so, he connected tradition and modernity—a typical motif of the young nation-states in the Middle East. Unfortunately, only limited biographical information about J. P. Samman is available.

Historical Description

A pictorial map is a type of map that not only represents geographical information but also includes artistic or symbolic elements to tell a story or illustrate a theme. Unlike traditional maps, which focus primarily on accuracy and scale, pictorial maps emphasize the depiction of landmarks, historical events, cultural aspects, or distinctive features of an area in an artistic and often humorous way. Pictorial maps are a creative form of cartography that allows one to experience a region or event in a visually appealing manner. These maps are often colorful and use stylized representations of geographical features or landscapes. They can portray geographical information, as well as themes such as history, culture, tourism, or even fictional narratives.