Al-Uqab Bird(from the eagle species) ….an emblem spread from Syria to all parts of the world

Syria is  the first cradle for the launch of symbols   from which the  emblem of Al-Uqab    spread to all parts of the world and became part of the global cultural heritage and a major element in artistic and literary beliefs and ideas.

The Historian Dr. Mahmoud al-Sayyed an  expert in  the Syrian archeology and  ancient inscriptions at the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums ( GDAM) , confirmed that the archaeological discoveries  found in various Syrian archaeological sites document  that the human being  in Syria was the first in the world to carve Al-Uqab  which is the king of birds of prey   in the tenth millennium BC.

Al-Uqab bird  was taken   as a symbol of pride, vigor,  self-esteem, courage, freedom, strength, sovereignty and loftiness, and its wings symbolize ascension, transcendence and strength as they embrace the vastness of the sky.

 The researcher Al-Sayyed explained in a statement to SANA  that Syria’s geographical location and the variation in its climate have  characterized it by a biodiversity of plants and animals. 

He indicated that Mount Sinjar, located on the Syrian-Iraqi border  is today the source of the precious and rare Al-Uqab birds   in the world,  adding from  the village of Rahiba (60 km north of the capital Damascus) free birds and rare falcons are priced  to  be adopted   at the world level. 

 Al-Sayyed  stressed  that  Al-Uqab   represents part of the history of the Syrian environment and the biological balance in it. They have  helped in the past and are  still contributing in the present to maintaining the ecological balance by devouring animals.

 He pointed out that  the Syrian  Uqab   is the only one among the group of  predatory birds  which were  discovered on the ancient Syrian coins and seals, and the large representation of  Al-Uqab birds  in the Syrian archaeological finds confirm that Syria, in light of the current archaeological data, is the pristine homeland of Al-Uqab .

Dr. Sayyed noted that in modern history, the Syrian Arab Republic is considered the first Arab nation to take Al-Uqab  as its emblem so  it became part of the nation’s history and a symbol of pride .

According to the Syrian antiquities expert, the study of the archaeological carvings  affirm  that the sculptor and the designer of the  emblem  depicted  AL-Uqab , not the eagle or the smaller falcon  as  the emblem of the Syrian Arab Republic .

He indicated that  in  Al-Jarf Al-Ahmar and Mount Belaas sculptures, it is noted that the eagle is in the form of a large bird, graceful and quick to pounce, showing signs of pride, and has a sharp look. 

The wings are spread wide as a symbol of the sublimity of the soul and the mind and to express a powerful, majestic predator with great looks while in flight. 

The descriptions of  Al-Uqab  in all ancient Syrian sculptures  are  the same shape and features. In the carvings of Palmyra  the  image of  Al-Uqab was carved   with a large head and covered with feathers. 

The body of  Al-Uqab   in the carvings of Palmyra was depicted  with  a long tail,  and wide wings, thick and large feathers, and the feathers of the wings are strong, solid and arranged in a way that allows air to pass on the surface of the wing to help it fly long .  It has large and sharp eyes on both sides of the head that enable it to see predators  from long distances. 

According to Law No. 37 issued by the late  president  Hafez al-Assad on June 21, 1980, and after its approval by the People’s Assembly on June 17, 1980 and its publication in the Official  newspaper  No. 26  in  1980, the emblem of the Syrian Arab Republic  has become, up to  to this day, consists of an Arab shield on which the national flag of the Syrian Arab Republic was engraved.

The shield embraces Al-uqab holding  in its claws a ribbon on which the “ Syrian Arab Republic” is written  in the Kufic script . 

At the bottom of the shield are two spikes  of wheat in golden color  to form  in addition to  Al-Uqab , the ribbon,  “a symbol of fertility and life,” .  

So, the  study of the Syrian archaeological finds and the emblem of the Syrian Arab Republic from 1945 until today document that  Al-Uqab  is the bird   depicted in the modern and ancient sculptures discovered at the Jurf al-Ahmar site and  the site of Jabal Balas , Palmyra sculptures, and the Syrian five thousand-pound banknote. 

Al-Uqab bird,  which  is a symbol of strength, sovereignty, courage  and pride, is the current emblem of the Syrian Arab Republic.

 Rawaa Ghanam