Martyrs' Square
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Name
114196_sv.jpg
Size
997.33 KB
Format
JPEG
Checksum (MD5)
f0f40715c1ec7b081c5e5921fa3fb4ff
Creator(s)
Lebanese
Time period
creation date: Place des Canons, 1772, creation date: renamed "Martyrs' Square", 1919
Location
Site: Beirut (Lebanon)
Cultural context
Lebanese
Description
In the 19th century, the square was known as Place des Canons. During World War I, Lebanon was under Ottoman rule. In 1915, Beirut suffered a blockade by the Allies, which was intended to starve the Turks out. The effect was a famine, followed by plague, which killed more than a quarter of the population. A revolt against the Turks broke out which resulted in hanging of six rebel leaders in the renamed Place des Martyrs.
Some remains of the opera and the bronze Martyrs statue are the only features left of the Place des Martyrs. The statue, riddled with bullet holes, has become a symbol for all that was destroyed during the Lebanese Civil War.
The Martyr's Square is a common location for protests and demonstrations, among the more notable demonstrations were the 2005 anti-Syrian protests of the Cedar Revolution and 2007 anti-government opposition protests led by Hezbollah and The Free Patrotic Movement.
Some remains of the opera and the bronze Martyrs statue are the only features left of the Place des Martyrs. The statue, riddled with bullet holes, has become a symbol for all that was destroyed during the Lebanese Civil War.
The Martyr's Square is a common location for protests and demonstrations, among the more notable demonstrations were the 2005 anti-Syrian protests of the Cedar Revolution and 2007 anti-government opposition protests led by Hezbollah and The Free Patrotic Movement.
exterior, destroyed house, 1991
Work type
Square (open space)
Type
Image
Rights
(c) Shirine Hamadeh 1991
Access rights
All rights reserved
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