From Damashaq or Dimashq, which could denote a fast-moving camel, to indicate the swift building of the city, or the great-great-grandson of Noah; in Arabic the city is known as As-sham, meaning "Northern".

Damascus, the capital of Syria,is located approximately 50 miles from the Mediterranean sea, on a plateau bordered by the Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Genesis 14:15
Acts 9:3-4

Damascus, which traces its history to 10,000 BC, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In fact, the book of Genesis mentions the existence of Damascis during Abraham's time. During an occupation by the Arameans, Damascus came to prominence, especially during the rule of Ben-Hadad around 1100 BC, a reign mentioned by the prophets Jeremiah and Amos. Conquered by the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III in 732 BC Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar in 572 BC, Persian in 538 BC and Rome in 64 BC Damascus was a highly contested Metropolis.

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