Martyrs’ Monument, Beirut

Martyrs' Monument

Martyrs' Monument is a monument by Italian sculptor Marino Mazzacurati on Martyrs' Square in the heart of downtown Beirut, Lebanon. It was inaugurated in 1960.

Overview

The monument was built in honor of martyrs executed on Martyrs’ Square in 1916, at the orders of Ottoman military ruler Jamal Pasha.

Construction

In 1930, Martyrs' Square displayed the first commemorative sculpture in memory of Lebanese and Arab nationalists hanged during World War I at the orders of Ottoman military ruler Jamal Pasha. The artwork by Youssef Hoyek represented two women, a Muslim and a Christian, holding hands in a symbolic gesture over a coffin. In 1956, President Camille Chamoun laid the foundation stone of a monument conceived by architect Sami Abdel Baki. It was never realized. Today, the four-meter-high statue of the Martyrs that adorns the square was created by Italian artist Marino Mazzacurati, and inaugurated by President Fouad Chehab in 1960. Damaged during the Civil War (1975-1990), the Martyrs’ monument was dismantled in 1996, to be restored in the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. The restoration intentionally preserved the marks of war damage.

History

Martyrs’ Square is named after the martyrs executed there in 1916, in the last years of Ottoman rule. The square displays a monument built in their honor. In 1930, during the French Mandate, the first commemorative sculpture was erected on the square in memory of Lebanese and Arab nationalists hanged during World War I at the orders of Ottoman military ruler Jamal Pasha. The artwork by Youssef Hoyek represented two women, a Muslim and a Christian, holding hands in a symbolic gesture over a coffin. In 1956, President Camille Chamoun laid the foundation stone of a monument conceived by architect Sami Abdel Baki. It consisted of an arch soaring over an obelisk, but was never realized. The four-meter-high statue of the Martyrs that now adorns the square was created by Italian artist Marino Mazzacurati, and inaugurated by President Fouad Chehab in 1960. Damaged during the Civil War (1975-1990), the Martyrs’ monument was dismantled in 1996, to be restored in the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. The restoration intentionally preserved the marks of war damage.

Timeline

1930: First commemorative sculpture was erected on Martyrs' Square in memory of Lebanese and Arab nationalists hanged during World War I by the Ottomans.
1956: President Camille Chamoun laid foundation stone of monument designed by Sami Abdel Baki which was never realised.
1960: President Fouad Chehab inaugurated the new sculpture of the Martyrs' Monument, designed by Marino Mazzacurati.
1996: Monument was dismantled and restored in the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.

Pictures

The monument at Martyrs' Square by Italian sculptor Marino Mazzacurati...
...was initially inaugurated in 1960.
It commemorates the hanging of a cross-confessional group of Lebanese Patriots...
... who had spoken against Turkish rule by Ottoman General Jamal Pasha in 1916.
It was decided to keep the traces of the Civil War as a reminder.

References

{{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.}}

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