Martyrs' Monument, Beirut
History
In 1930, during the French Mandate, the first commemorative sculpture was erected on the square in memory of Lebanese nationalists who were hanged during World War I by the order of Ottoman military ruler Djemal Pasha. The original monument (right) by Youssef Hoyek represented two women, a Muslim and a Christian, holding hands in a symbolic gesture over an urn that represented their martyred children' ashes. Hoyek carved on their chests stylized shahada (لا إله إلا الله) and a small cross respectively.
In 1956, President Camille Chamoun laid the foundation stone of a monument. It would have consisted of an arch soaring over an obelisk, but the monument was never completed.
The current four-meter-high statue of the Martyrs that adorns the square was created by Italian artist Marino Mazzacurati and cast at Ahmad & Saeddine Abbas Foundry in the Saifi district. It was inaugurated by President Fouad Chehab in 1960.
Due to damage inflicted during the Civil War (1975-1990), the Martyrs’ monument was dismantled in 1996 and restored by the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. The restoration intentionally preserved the marks of the war damage.
Timeline
- 1930: First commemorative sculpture was erected on Martyrs' Square in memory of Lebanese nationalists hanged during World War I by the Ottomans.
- 1956: President Camille Chamoun laid foundation stone of monument designed by Sami Abdel Baki which was never completed.
- 1960: President Fouad Chehab inaugurated the new sculpture of the Martyrs' Monument, designed by Marino Mazzacurati.
- 1996: Monument was dismantled and restored by the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.
Pictures
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Details of the monument
See also
References
- Kassir, Samir (2003) Histoire de Beyrouth, Fayard, Paris.
- Sassine Farès et Tuéni, Ghassan (direction) (2003) El-Bourj. Place de la Liberté et Porte du Levant, Editions Dar an-Nahar, Beyrouth