Postcard from Aleppo, a photo from Halab, North

Photographer's Note

I leave India in 1988 and move to Aleppo, Syria in 1995. I rediscovered this photo today among my old slides and decided to show what the old central area of this poor, suffering city looked like while Syria was still at peace.

I think this view of central Aleppo was taken from the ancient Citadel. It was a beautiful and very interesting city, regarded as a world heritage because of the Citadel, magnificent mosques and other important buildings. Aleppo also had a small but fantastic archeological museum. This area has been a centre of human civilization for thousands of years, and now hardly anything remains.

Today most of the city is destroyed, thousands of its citizens killed, those remaining suffering daily from bombings that are deliberately aimed at hospitals, schools and other civilian areas. The battle of Aleppo is a disgrace to humanity.

This photo, scanned from a Kodachrome slide from 1995, is just a poor reminder of the Aleppo that once existed.

Here is a larger version. I know that the quality of the scan is very poor, but I wanted to show it anyway.

ikeharel, PaulVDV, papagolf21, pajaran, Fis2, jhm, adramad, Energysavingelk, dale54, ourania, PiotrF, alvaraalto, tyro, cornejo, Cricri, mehrdad-t, COSTANTINO, sacimar, danos, ktanska, pierrefonds, gervaso, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel, delpeoples, Royaldevon, Hansaphotos, ChrisJ, Periko has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

No_One (4) 2016-12-10 2:42

Hi Gert
A beautiful city and a fine tribute to what one was. I still find it staggering that a city can be destroyed in our times, it's people killed and its heritage wiped from the earth. I hope for better times for the people of Syria. Thanks for sharing this very important historical document
Best wishes
Noel

ikeharel (113385) 2016-12-10 2:46

Hello Gert,
This town in local language pronounces "Khaleb" (Kha_leb), and in Israel nobody would recognize the name Aleppo, I assure you about this.
Anyway, you show here a great documentary about a town that is no longer looking as this picture.
A scanned pic. that to my humble opinion is very good.
My best regards,
Ike

PaulVDV (62944) 2016-12-10 2:59

Hello Gert,
Arriving from Turkey Aleppo was my first introduction to Syria and immediately one of the most beautiful and friendly experiences in the Middle East.
I read somewhere that also the Citadel is completely destroyed but I'm not sure if this is correct.
The last days the human suffering there knows an unprecedented peak. Conquering land and getting it under his influence seems more important than human lives. The traditional superpowers at the top.
I'm really sorry but how realistic are wishes for improvement ... ?
Best regards, Paul

papagolf21 (152607) 2016-12-10 4:10

Bonjour, cher Gert,
Je suis toujours aussi friand (amateur) de vos compositions. Elles nous replongent dans un pass� pas si lointain, mais � combien de changements depuis.
Un grand merci de votre contribution.
Amiti廥.
Philippe

emka (158198) 2016-12-10 4:22

Hello Gert, I haven't been to Aleppo but the places I saw in 2010 also do not exist anymore. Probably you saw pictures like here. I still remember the people from Damascus or Bosra. How they live now?
Today was the 80th month-versary of Smolensk catastrophe. Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Joachim Brudzinski, commenting on the demonstration of Polish Citizens, said that if they want to prevent the prayer for the dead, it is for him "something so incomprehensible, and even barbaric. "
Have a nice weekend

MAlgo

pajaran (115941) 2016-12-10 5:22

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled, interesantan tekst ...
Dobar rad, lepo pokazan deo grada i minaret, dobar kontrast i perspektiva, lepo uhvacen trenutak.
Lepa arhitektura i minaret, lepa fotografija i secanje na 1995.
Lepo popodne i sve najbolje za vikend, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Nice view, interesting text ...
Good work, nice part of town and shown minaret, good contrast and perspective, beautifully captured moment.
Beautiful architecture and minaret, beautiful photos and memories of in 1995.
Nice afternoon and all the best for the weekend, good luck.

Sergiom (117241) 2016-12-10 6:45

Bonjout Gert,

IL fallait n嶰essairement fouiller dans tes archives pour voir la ville d'Alep aussi belle. C'est criminel ce qu'y s'y passe.Magnifique point de vue sur une ville superbe.

Amicalement

Serge

Fis2 (170807) 2016-12-10 6:55

Witaj Gert!
A very nice view, interesting town.
Why do you suffer, disgrace for humanity.
Good frame and superb colours.
Well done.
Have a nice weekend.
Krzysztof

jhm (211736) 2016-12-10 7:07

Hello Gert,

The battle of Aleppo is a disgrace to humanity.
Also Dresden in Germany 1945, 13 op 14 februari was a big disgrace to humanity, but nobody has something learned.
I have never knew a War without victims, but the question why!
Power, money and women, and faith, the downfall of humanity
Sorry my firend that I write emotionally.

Your picture is very nice with a big city without War.
An excellent presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

BennyV (34748) 2016-12-10 7:22

I'm trying to find hope in beauty, but it's difficult. Will this wonderful ancient town ever rise again? What's happening there is plain shameful for every human. Sad planet.

Benny

npecanhuk (79329) 2016-12-10 7:36

Hallo Gert!
Very interesting and attractive "old" picture!
It seemed to be a typical city from that corner of the World and, unfortunately, nowadays, it must be very diferente from that, all destroyed and full of suffering!
Glad you shared this meaningful image with all of us!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

carlo62 (81265) 2016-12-10 8:38

Ciao Gert
purtroppo la citt� che tu ci mostri non esiste pi�, adesso ci sono solo cumuli di detriti e polvere, questo � quello che ci mostrano le recenti immagini....
Sono desolato e arrabbiato per quello che sta succedendo, non capisco quali siano i motivi politici per cui nessuno interviene e questo mi fa arrabbiare ancora di pi�.
Ti auguro una buona domenica, per i siriani non lo sar� di sicuro.
Carlo

adramad (73004) 2016-12-10 9:02

Hi, Gert.
A magnificent image, of this city that was a world of bustle in its great bazaar and its beautiful streets of the old town, I also visit it years ago and I am very sorry the images that we see now in TV.
A fantastic photo, with very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Well done. I like it.
Enjoy the weekend.
Best regards.
Luis.

Nicou (193806) 2016-12-10 9:18

Hello

Fantastique vue e tiamge quels minarets qui ressortent de ces maisons et le coupoles avec une coupole verte en fond la brume quelle ensemble de cette ville la maison serr嶪s et le tons grandisoe.
Bravo et amiti�
Nicou

Energysavingelk (7834) 2016-12-10 11:41

Hej Gert!

It was absolutely necessary that you show us what has been a vivid place of culture and is gone to the dogs now, being only a pawn on the chessboard of power. Alas!

Hilsner fra Tyskland
Sven

Silvio1953 (221659) 2016-12-10 11:42

Ciao Gert, great POV, on fantastic city, poor Aleppo now, fantastic monuments in your photo, fine details and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

dale54 (17768) 2016-12-10 12:06

gert hello...what a beautiful city back then! very interesting to look at from building to building..superb work here,love it! tfs dale

ourania (51103) 2016-12-10 13:11

Hello Gert,
it's a childish thought but this time I whole-heartedly wish we could do more than travel on your time machine, I wish we could turn back time and avoid all the violence, disgrace and suffering caused to Aleppo. Your picture is amazing because it covers a great part of the city and is full of details and character. Everything I see, from buildings to details and colours is filtred through what I know now. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a good night,
Ourania

PiotrF (54726) 2016-12-10 16:42

Hello Gert
Amazing postard from your archive, interesting view of Aleppo.Beautiful photo with architectural detail .Good composition, nice colours and good light.Perfect captured, interesting notes.
Nice presentation.
Regards
Piotr

rychem (72187) 2016-12-10 22:41

Today we can hear of Aleppo in all tv informations, but the reason is really sad, and you show us this city from the past in better conditions as a healthy city, very good and interesting photo
regards Ryszard

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-12-11 1:29

Hello Gert
A beautiful but also a very sad picture if you realize the devastate situating of the city now. IS at the point to conquer the town again probably to kill some more innocent people and destroy the last remains of the old culture. It is incredible how a culture can destroy it selves.
Have a good Sunday.
Groet Rob

Tue (92402) 2016-12-11 2:29

Hello Gert,
Such a wonderful view over the roofs, domes and minarets of the ancient city, which is here bathing in a beautiful sunlight. It is such a incredibly sad thought that probably hardly anything of what we can see in this photo still exists.
Lars

tyro (30513) 2016-12-11 3:43

Hello Gert,

I'm sorry I've been absent from TE for a couple of weeks but you should certainly make no apology for the quality of this scan - I think it's remarkably good and, not only that, this photograph is indeed a treasure - a wonderful image of this historic city at a time when ordinary people went about their daily lives in peace and before it became a site of destruction, human suffering, starvation and massacre.

And from the photographic point of view it is a finely composed image too with the tall minaret and the dome beside it perfectly placed in the frame. A true reminder of once peaceful times in Syria.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

cornejo (61504) 2016-12-11 4:03

Hello Gert, very good photograph of this beautiful and interesting composition as testimony of human barbarism, very well captured in this interesting image, with good clarity, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations, my friend. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

Good afternoon and happy start to the week.
Best wishes from the south of Spain.
Angel.

GyurMaster (24838) 2016-12-11 4:57

Dear Gert,

You started you new series with an excellent postcard, offering a lot of details (eg the quite chaotic building-style) to observe. In our country we have a few Minarets back from the Turkish occupation, the nearest one is in Eger city. I have climbed it a few times and the last time I sweared I won't do it anymore, because its very narrow and I have a fright of the heights.The panorama is excellent, however. :)

Have a nice Sunday!
Gy.

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-12-11 5:05

Hi Gert
Its many historical buildings, human heritage here being leveled into heaps of rubbles and I shudder to think of the unthinkable with many people perished.
So what you see here is totally GONE - a UNESCO world heritage site and the loss of life. I'm struggling to find the Words to say about such a tragic event.
It's always SO sad to see ancient beauty destroyed either by nature or Mans own Hand. Your picture becomes history and to keep alive the beautiful memories you must have had then. Hats off to you, Congrats.
Best wishes

Cricri (176) 2016-12-11 10:08

Hi Gert
Quel belle vue sur la ville, tout 彋ait si calme, la ville enti鋨e, une grande tristesse de voir ce pays bombard嶪, c'est gens bless廥 , ou mort, certains qui essaye de fuir, une image qui ne laisse pas indiff廨ente........
belle soir嶪
cricri

jmdias (115208) 2016-12-11 10:22

gert

very beautiful view, interesting how most of the buildings has a similar color and the green dome breaks the mood.
yes, it is a pity, for peace, for history, for the monuments, pieces art and specially for the people who were obligated to move or were hurt, or killed, in this madness.
TFS this memory. it was a place I would like to visit in the past.

hugs

jorge

mehrdad-t (4812) 2016-12-11 10:29

Hello,
Very good perspective, I like the strong graphical lines which set well within the landscape.
Thanks for Sharing,
Mehrdad

COSTANTINO (116542) 2016-12-11 10:36

Hello dear Gert and have a nice time
and a happy new week
original version as always
I red carefuly your notes and I felt
unhappy reading that Aleppo had a small
but fantastic archeological museum but
today the most of the city is destroyed
wat could I say for whats happening now?
nothing at all its so pity indeed to be informed
that thousands of its citizens were killed
I am so unhappy dear friend
regards
Costantino

sacimar (38173) 2016-12-12 4:30

Hello Gert,

what a different picture must be this one today, I agree with you, Syria愀 war is a disgrace to humanity, the image is a beautiful postcard of this city,

Best regards,

Sergio

danos (110407) 2016-12-12 9:58

Hello Gert,
nice the panoramic view of this section of Aleppo that in our days the larger part of it is in ruins.The Minaret dominating the scene as is placed perfect in the frame.

Regards,danos

ktanska (44788) 2016-12-12 10:15

Hej Gert,
Who else could provide such a view from this city when times were more peaceful. Terrible human tragedy also wipes away thousands of years of history.
A well framed vertical view. Misty background makes a bit surprising combination with sunny cityscape.
Kari

pierrefonds (114494) 2016-12-12 15:54

Hi Gert,

The wideness of the city is givin g depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details of the houses amd of the Mosque. The good luminosity is giving nice tints to the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

gervaso (28177) 2016-12-13 2:10

Hello, Gert!

This photo is a treasure you have of this beautiful city that now has been suffering so much! The view of these towers is incredible! It's so sad to think how this same view must be now... Wonderful job!

worldcitizen (16072) 2016-12-13 11:21

Hello Gert,
My heart aches as I think about Aleppo and the civilians there, caught in the middle of hell. I could write about the inhumanity of war, and many other topics, but I'll stick to your photo, which reminds us of the beauty and history of Aleppo. No matter how many people die, there is always another war. Nothing ever changes... Thanks for this photo.

kasianowak (17676) 2016-12-13 14:18

Hi again Gert
I of course cannot not comment on your last two uploads, for obvious reason that I found myself on the outskirts of this very conflict two years ago, just after it started and it seemed as if it was about to end soon, following the start of the allies' intervention. But it wasn't to be and I should have known that western interventions had never brought anything good to the Middle East even if they seem totally justified at the time. One of those tragic paradoxes or terrible cases of lack of judgement.
It is fortunate that you have photos of Aleppo in its full glory from before the war and at the same time heartbreaking to see it while knowing that it no longer exists.
I would also add another phrase to "distroyed... killed... suffering" - "not wanted anywhere as refugees".
Regards
Kasia

mcmtanyel (68569) 2016-12-13 20:37

Hello Gert,
It breaks my hear to hear what is happening to Halep (Aleppo). Buildings can be repaired but damage to life cannot be undone.
Regards,
MT

saxo042 (38078) 2016-12-14 12:13

Hej Gert,
En mer 酺 20 緳 gammal bild men 鄚d� ytterst aktuell. Det mesta har v鄟 redan sagts i alla kommentarer. En bra bild dock!
H鄟sningar
Gunnar

SteveH (8220) 2016-12-14 14:49

Hi Gert, this is the Aleppo I remember. so sad. Best wishes, Steve

delpeoples (60342) 2016-12-15 1:16

Ahhh Gert, this photo brings tears to my eyes. As does the real time footage of a genocide. There are so many people blaming each other for this tragedy, yet no one seems to know what to do in practical terms. There are no black and white answers here, but one thing is certain, the killing from all quarters must stop. This is a beautiful homage to a once-beautiful, thriving and peaceful city. It is also a reminder that this kind of thing can happen to us all, anywhere if we are not vigilant.

Thank you for sharing this, have a beautiful day
Lisa

Royaldevon (85932) 2016-12-16 2:54

Good Morning Gert,

I have really enjoyed perusing this photograph, absorbing the very different style of the architecture, the flat roofs, the many domed details and, of course, the tall minaret.

Having looked closely, it is with great sadness that I recall the photographs that have been emerging, on the news, of this once fine city. I cannot imagine how people can have such lack of humanity for fellow human beings. It is almost like a snowball, cascading down a hillside, one atrocity inciting further, greater atrocities until there is no limit to what devastation ensues!
Will we ever learn!

Thank you for sharing this, and stirring our consciences!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

mayjayne (7204) 2016-12-16 6:23

Dear Gert,

A beautiful reminder of what the city was once like. It is so sad that war has to take that away; and some of us were lucky to have appreciated these places before that happens. Thank you for sharing....

May

Hansaphotos (11381) 2016-12-18 2:15

Hei Gert

Med krigshandlingene som foreg緳 i Syria og Aleppo som bakteppe, blir det veldig spesielt � studere dette fascinerende bildet. Vi kan bare h幠e at de tragedier som utspiller seg i dette herjede landet snart m� ta slutt. Det er uansett flott at det finnes bilder som dette som dokumenterer p� en fin m廞e hvordan det en gang var.

Du har skaffet deg et veldig godt, h鼜t utsiktspunkt som gir et godt inntrykk av byen og hvor tettbygd det var. De mange kupler og minareten er flotte elementer som bidrar til en arkitektonisk rikdom og vitner om en gammel og rik kultur. Et velkomponert og flott bilde:)

Ha en fin s鷢dag.

Hilsen Erling

tenretin (3275) 2016-12-18 8:56

Hello, Une vue interessante du pass� d'une ville ravag嶪 pas la guerre. Bonne id嶪 que de la publier. Bon we. JP

serp2000 (47063) 2016-12-22 0:04

Hello, Gert! Yep, the nowaday images of this city look not so peaceful. And we know who and what is reason of these changes in this country. What can I say? Excellent postcard from the past of Syria.Best wishes! Merry Christmas to you! Serghei

iainsp (3298) 2016-12-26 3:58

Greetings Gert,

An important and moving tribute to an important city. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.

Iain

ChrisJ (171852) 2017-01-07 17:34

Hi Gert

A sad reminder of what this once elegant city looked liked. Today it looks more like post wwii Warsaw, or Rotterdam or any of the other European cities in ruins after the war. :-( Tfs!