Secrets of Assassins' fort unearthed in Syria

[Rambuchan]

Some archeology news for folks...

Secrets of Assassins' fort unearthed in Syria

MASYAF, Syria (Reuters) - Nestled at the foot of Syria's coastal mountains, an ancient citadel has been put on the tourist map by restoration and excavation that revealed mysteries of the medieval Assassins sect, once based here.

Saladin, the great Muslim leader, laid siege to Masyaf castle in the 12th century. But he thought twice before launching an assault on the Assassins, who had a reputation for mounting daring operations to slay their foes.

"Anyone who tried to take the Assassins' castle would be dead the next day," said Haytham Ali Hasan, an archaeologist involved in the restoration project.

Although Saladin had conquered Crusader castles with much stronger defences, historians believe the Assassins' death threats forced the Kurdish warrior to lift the siege at Masyaf.

Perched on a rock and overlooking a boulder-strewn plain, the castle has been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Tonnes of debris have been cleared from the site since 2000, allowing researchers to learn more about the citadel's secretive occupants.

One of the main conclusions, Hasan said, was that the Assassins were not very good at building castles, even if the site has lasted well and looks impressive to visitors today.

"The system of defence is very poor," he said, reviewing newly acquired knowledge about Masyaf's construction.

The Assassins had tried to copy the castles of the Crusaders and Saladin, "but not very well", he said, suggesting the fort's weaknesses might be evidence of the group's relative poverty.

But what the Assassins lacked in might, they made up for in stealth. Saladin himself narrowly escaped one assassination attempt by their knife-wielding agents.

The Assassins were led by Rashid Al-Din Sinan, also known as "The Old Man of the Mountain". He used Masyaf as a base for spreading the beliefs of the Nizari Ismaili sect of Islam to which he and his followers belonged.

Nizari Ismailis, followers of a branch of Shi'ite Islam, today take the Aga Khan as their spiritual guide.

CISTERNS, SECRET PASSAGE

The restoration project, completed during the last year, has revealed much about the history of Ismailis in Syria while also saving parts of the castle from collapse.

Chambers, wells, passageways, coins and ceramics from the time have been unearthed. "We now know more about the life of Sinan. This is very important for writing the history of the Ismaili community in Syria," Hasan said.

Ismailis were living in the castle as recently as the last century and the fortress is still part of the fabric of Masyaf town.

Locals had built houses right up to the castle's main gate and 12 were bought and demolished as part of the project, making the site easier for tourists to visit.

"Getting inside the castle used to be a challenging operation," said Ali Esmaiel, head of the Aga Khan Development Network in Syria.

Supposed to have been completed in three years, the project took double that because of the wealth of discoveries, said Baidaa Husseino, an architectural engineer and site coordinator.

"You'd find the edge of something and want to know what it was," she said. "We'd work for many extra hours."

The discoveries included a tunnel thought to be a secret escape passage, a traditional bath house and a system of channels designed to carry rain water into cisterns beneath the castle.

TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES, MATERIALS

Much of the restoration work was done by hand using traditional techniques. Materials were reproduced to match those used by the original builders. Concrete used in preservation efforts in the 1980s was replaced with authentic materials.

Syria already boasts a list of well-preserved castles dating to the period, including the imposing Krak des Chevaliers -- a Crusader fort just an hour's drive from Masyaf.

Like the Citadel of Saladin near today's coastal city of Latakia and the fortress at the city of Aleppo, Krak des Chevaliers has the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture has also conducted restoration work at the citadels of Saladin and Aleppo.



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[Plotinus]

Very interesting stuff!

I've always wondered what these Assassins actually did in their castle when they weren't off pouring poison into people's ears. Presumably they didn't just patrol the corridors waiting for people to invade, like World of Warcraft guards. Was it a sort of monastic community, perhaps?

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Great stuff!

I'd like to know more about the truths & myths sorrunding "The Old Man in the Mountain" who gave the orders tho.

Very interesting stuff!

I've always wondered what these Assassins actually did in their castle when they weren't off pouring poison into people's ears. Presumably they didn't just patrol the corridors waiting for people to invade, like World of Warcraft guards. Was it a sort of monastic community, perhaps?

They were playing Assassin's Creed.

 

[Dann]

Have always been very interested in this mysterious sect and its role in history.

 

[Tee Kay]

Good find!

I'm very interested in the Assassins. What exactly are their base beliefs which make them different from other Muslims?

 

[Rambuchan]

Very interesting stuff!

I've always wondered what these Assassins actually did in their castle when they weren't off pouring poison into people's ears. Presumably they didn't just patrol the corridors waiting for people to invade, like World of Warcraft guards. Was it a sort of monastic community, perhaps?

I guess (and it's a broad brush guess) that, being Ismailis, they spent most of their time distinguishing themselves from other Muslims; Sunnis, like Saladin, in particular, and Shiites, their fellow Partisans of Ali, less so. Aside from the more eye catching assassinations, this would have involved the pursuit of mystical and esoteric forms of Islamic worship and practice, somewhat similar to Sufi traditions, which incidentally grew out of Christian desert dwelling ascetics in the region as much as Islamic leanings to the same. So I reckon your suggestion that they were a sort of monastic community could well be close to the mark, especially given their reputation as a notably scholarly branch of Islam. I've always thought that their reputation as bloody thirsty assassins is quite inaccurate and has stuck owing to its 'historical spectacularism'. Ismailis, as evidenced by the Ismaili Fatimid Empire, were largely tolerant of other faiths and sects. It's just when you tried to storm their strongholds that they got a bit narked off. But I don't really know all that much about Ismailism and would appreciate input from others.

 

[sydhe]

I've always heard of Hassan-i Sabbah as "The Old Man in the Mountain," but he was at Alamut in northern Iran (only about 60 miles from Tehran, by the way). I didn't realize they had a leader in Syria with a similar title.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

I've always heard of Hassan-i Sabbah as "The Old Man in the Mountain," but he was at Alamut in northern Iran (only about 60 miles from Tehran, by the way). I didn't realize they had a leader in Syria with a similar title.

Actually that's the guy i thought the article was reffering. I knew that the founder of the Hashashin (aparently that's Hassan) was the "Old Man in the Mountain".

Looking through some articles it seems Rashid lived after Hassan. Maybe it's possible that "Old Man in the Mountain" is used as a "name" for the leaders or an exceptional leader or smthing, after Hassan died.

 

[soul_warrior]

kudos to the funky president

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Very cool!