Martyrs' Square, Beirut
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Martyrs' Square ( ; french: Place des Martyrs), historically known as "Al Burj" or "Place des Cannons", is the historical central
public square A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true square, geometric square, used for community gathe ...
of
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
,
Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
. Like the Martyr's Square in
Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...
, it is named after the 6 May 1916 executions ordered by
Djemal Pasha Ahmed Djemal ( ota, احمد جمال پاشا, Ahmet Cemâl Paşa; 6 May 1872 – 21 July 1922), also known as Cemal Pasha, was an Ottoman military leader and one of the Three Pashas that ruled the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Djemal w ...
during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.


Overview

In 1931, the historic square took its name to commemorate the martyrs executed there under Ottoman rule. In the 1950s, the square became a popular venue for cinemas and coffee-houses. During the
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ar, الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية, translit=Al-Ḥarb al-Ahliyyah al-Libnāniyyah) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities a ...
, it was part of the
demarcation line {{Refimprove, date=January 2008 A political demarcation line is a geopolitical border, often agreed upon as part of an armistice or ceasefire. Africa * Moroccan Wall, delimiting the Moroccan-controlled part of Western Sahara from the Sahrawi- ...
that divided the city in half.


Construction

Initially named ''Sahat al-Burj'', the Municipality of Beirut modernized the square in 1878 as the main meeting place of the city. Beshara Effendi designed a garden with fountain and kiosks, overlooked by the Petit Serail - the seat of Beirut’s governor general – as well as public buildings and souks. After that, the square underwent a lot of transformations until 1931, where it took the name of Martyrs' Square in commemoration of the martyrs executed there under Ottoman rule and a
monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...
was erected. In 1950, the Petit Serail was demolished. The new Rivoli cinema blocked the link between the square and the harbor. Martyrs’ Square became Beirut’s bus and taxi terminus and a popular venue for cinemas, coffee-houses, modest hotels and the red-light district. During the
Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
(1975-1990), Martyrs’ Square formed the demarcation line that divided the city in half. In 2005, an international competition was launched for the design of a new square with its axis open to the sea, reestablishing Martyrs’ Square as
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
’s premier public space and heart of the capital.


History

Martyrs’ Square originated as an open space (maydan) beyond the city wall. The ancient watchtower of Burj al-Kashef marked its outer limit, and gave the square its first and still surviving name, Sahat al-Burj (Tower Square). In 1773, a Russian cannon placed near the Burj caused the square’s name to be changed to ‘Place du Canon’ (Cannon Square). It became ‘Place des Canons’ (Cannons Square) in 1860, when the initial Russian cannon was replaced by cannons from the French fleet. Named ‘Hamidiyyeh Square’ in 1884 to honor Sultan Abdul Hamid II, it became ‘Union Square’ and then ‘Freedom Square’ with the advent of the Young Turks revolution of 1908. In 1931, the square took the name it still officially bears today, Martyrs’ Square, to commemorate the martyrs executed there under Ottoman rule and the
Martyrs’ Monument, Beirut Martyrs' Monument was built to honor the hanging of a cross-confessional group of Lebanese Patriots on May 6, 1916, who had spoken against Turkish rule by Ottoman General Jamal Pasha. It is located at what is now known as Martyrs' Square in the ...
was erected. First enclosed as a formal urban space in the 1860s, the Municipality of Beirut modernized the square in 1878 as the main meeting place of the city. Beshara Effendi designed a garden with fountain and kiosks, overlooked by the Petit Serail - the seat of Beirut’s governor general – as well as public buildings and souks. The tramway, built in 1906, placed the square at the center of Beirut’s transport network. During the early years of the French Mandate, the Duraffourd and subsequent Danger Plans created the ‘Place de l’Etoile’ (
Etoile Square The Beirut Central District (BCD) or ''Centre Ville'' is the historical and geographical core of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Also called downtown Beirut, it has been described the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hu ...
). They proposed the demolition of the Petit Serail to open Martyrs’ Square to the sea, an ambition that was foiled. The square was neglected and Etoile Square became the geographic and administrative center of the capital. In 1931, it was renamed Martyrs’ Square after those executed there on 6 May 1916, in the last years of Ottoman rule. The nationalists were a cross-confessional group that were fighting for Lebanon's autonomy and independence: * Emir Aref Chehab * Father Joseph Hayek * Abdul Karim al-Khalil * Abdelwahab al-Inglizi * Joseph Bshara Hani * Mohammad Mahmassani * Mahmoud Mahmassani, brother of Mohammad * Omar Ali Nashashibi * Omar Hamad * Philippe El
Khazen Khazen (also El-Khazen, Al-Khazen, Khazin or De Khazen, ar, آل الخازن, is a prominent Levantine family and clan based in Keserwan District, Lebanon, Damascus, Syria, Nablus, Palestine, as well as other districts around the Levant, predomin ...
, journalist from Jounieh, Lebanon * Farid El Khazen, younger brother of Philippe and also a journalist and editor from Jounieh, Lebanon * Sheikh Ahmad Tabbara * Petro Paoli * Abdel Ghani al-Arayssi, editor of al-Mufid newspaper * Muhammad Chanti, publisher of ad-difa'a newspaper in
Jaffa Jaffa, in Hebrew Yafo ( he, יָפוֹ, ) and in Arabic Yafa ( ar, يَافَا) and also called Japho or Joppa, the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv-Yafo, is an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is known for its association with the b ...
. * George Haddad, journalist and poet The first Monument aux Martyrs was commissioned by the French Mandate authorities and unveiled on 19 December 1930, on the twentieth anniversary of the declaration of the state of Greater Lebanon. However, the statue by
Youssef Hoyek Youssef Saadallah Howayek ( ar, يوسف حويك; also Yusuf Huwayyik, Hoyek, Hoayek, Hawayek) (1883–1962) was a painter, sculptor and writer from Helta, in modern-day Lebanon. Career Youssef Howayek's father, Saadallah Howayek, was a Counc ...
- which became known as ''Les Pleureuses'' or the weeping women - was deeply unpopular after independence for its depiction of grieving Christian and Muslim mothers joining hands over a cremation urn. It was attacked with a hammer in 1948 before being finally removed in 1953, and is now displayed outside the
Sursock Museum The Sursock Museum ( ar, قصر سرسق), which is officially known as the Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum, is a modern art and contemporary art museum in Beirut, Lebanon. History In 1912, the wealthy and prominent Lebanese aristocrat Nicolas I ...
. The more triumphant '' Martyrs' Monument'' by Marino Mazzacuratti was inaugurated in 1960. In 1950, the Petit Serail was demolished. The new Rivoli cinema blocked the link between the square and the harbor. Martyrs’ Square became
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
’s bus and taxi terminus and a popular venue for cinemas, coffee-houses, modest hotels and the red-light
district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
. During the
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ar, الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية, translit=Al-Ḥarb al-Ahliyyah al-Libnāniyyah) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities a ...
(1975-1990), the demarcation line that divided Beirut into east and west ran through Martyrs’ Square. In 2005, an international competition was launched for the design of a new square with its axis open to the sea, reestablishing Martyrs’ Square as
Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
’s premier public space and heart of the capital. In late 2019, Martyrs' Square became a major focal point of the anti-government protests.


Timeline

* 1773: Initially Sahat al-Burj, it became Place du canon, after the Russian cannon that was placed on the square. * 1860: Renamed Place des canons after the Russian cannon was replaced by Cannons from the French fleet. * 1878: Municipality of Beirut modernized the square as the main meeting place of the city. * 1884: Named Hamidiyyeh Square in honor of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. * 1906: The tramway was built and placed the square at the center of Beirut's transport network. * 1908: Named Freedom Square following the advent of the Young Turks revolution. * 1931: The square took the name of Martyrs' Square in commemoration of the martyrs executed there under Ottoman rule. * 1950: The demolition of the Petit Serail, which was earlier proposed during the early years of the French Mandate. * 1975-1990: Civil war, Martyrs’ Square formed the demarcation line that divided the city in half. * 2005: International competition was launched for the design of a new square.


Gallery

File:Martyrs' Monument and Al-Amin Mosque, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg, Martyrs' Monument and Al-Amin Mosque File:Martyrs' Square at sunset, Beirut, Lebanon.jpg, Martyrs' Square at sunset File:Place des martyrs, Beirut, Monument 2016 1.jpg, The
monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...
at Martyrs' Square by Italian sculptor
Marino Mazzacurati Renato Marino Mazzacurati (22 July 1907 – 18 September 1969) was an Italian painter and sculptor belonging to the modern movement of the ''Scuola romana (Roman School)'', of eclectic styles and able within his career span to represent the a ...
... File:Place des martyrs, Beirut, Monument 2016 5.jpg, ...was initially inaugurated in 1960. File:Place des martyrs, Beirut, Monument 2016 4.jpg, It commemorates the hanging of a cross-confessional group of Lebanese Patriots... File:Place des martyrs, Beirut, Monument 2016 3.jpg, ... who had spoken against Turkish rule by Ottoman General Jamal Pasha in 1916. File:Place des martyrs, Beirut, Monument 2016 2.jpg, It was decided to keep the traces of the Civil War as a reminder. File:Martyrs Square 1982.jpg, Martyrs square in 1982 File:City square in Beirut.jpg, Martyrs square in the '60s.


See also

*
Municipality of Beirut Beirut City Hall, also known as the Municipality of Beirut, is a landmark building built in downtown Beirut, Lebanon in 1924,A Global History of Architecture By Francis D. K. Ching, Mark M. Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakas page 712 and has become ...


References


References

*Davie, May (2001) Beyrouth 1825-1975. Un siècle et demi d’urbanisme, Ordre des ingénieurs et des architectes, Beyrouth. *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. * {{Authority control Monuments and memorials in Lebanon Squares in Beirut National squares