Asia Capitals Quiz
Test your knowledge of Asian countries and their capital cities.
🇸🇾 Syria
Capital: Damascus
Damascus – One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.
Damascus is the capital of Syria and one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Located in southwestern Syria near the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, it has been shaped by Aramean, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Ottoman, and later Syrian periods. The historic center contains mosques, churches, traditional houses, markets, and streets that reflect many stages of the city’s long history. Damascus remains the country’s main political and administrative center.
đź“ś Timeline of Damascus
Ancient period: Settlement in and around Damascus dates back thousands of years, and the city became an important center in the ancient Near East.
635 AD: Muslim forces took Damascus during the early Islamic conquests.
661–750: Damascus served as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate.
1516: Damascus came under Ottoman rule and remained part of the Ottoman Empire until the early 20th century.
1946: Damascus became the capital of fully independent Syria after the end of the French Mandate.
1 January 2026: Syria introduced a new Syrian pound through a national currency redenomination. Two zeros were removed, making 100 old Syrian pounds equal to 1 new Syrian pound.
Today: Damascus remains Syria’s capital and the seat of the country’s central government, while its Old City continues to hold major historical and cultural sites.
đź“Š Quick Stats
Historical Origins
Ancient settlement dating back thousands of years
Language
Arabic
Currency
Syrian Pound (SYP)
A new Syrian pound entered circulation on 1 January 2026 after two zeros were removed from the old denominations. The conversion was 100 old pounds = 1 new pound.
Geography
Southwestern Syria, near the Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Time Zone
EEST (UTC+3) year-round
Syria has remained on UTC+3 throughout the year since 2022 and does not make seasonal clock changes.
Calling Code
+963
Driving Side
Right-hand traffic
🏛️ Iconic Landmarks
Umayyad Mosque
One of the best-known historic mosques in the Middle East, built in the early 8th century during the Umayyad period.
Old City of Damascus
A UNESCO World Heritage Site containing historic streets, religious buildings, markets, houses, and architectural remains from several periods.
Azm Palace
An 18th-century Damascene residence built during the Ottoman period, known for its courtyards, stonework, woodwork, and traditional domestic architecture.
Damascus remains Syria’s capital and administrative center. Its Old City, major religious sites, markets, museums, and surviving historic architecture document a long urban history that continues alongside the modern city.
