Monument to Saladin

The Saladin Monument is an equestrian statue depicting Saladin, the greatest sultan of Egypt and Syria, a talented commander and spiritual leader of Islam of the twelfth century. The monument is located in the capital of Syria - Damascus, near the historical center of the city.

The opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Saladin’s death. The bronze statue, created by the famous sculptor Abdullah al-Sayed, was presented to the public in 1993.

The sculptural group depicts Saladin during his battles with the Crusaders. The commander himself sits on a horse and clutches a sword in his hand, and around him are three foot soldiers. As the sculptor himself explained, he wanted to portray the great sultan not as a single fighter, but as a leader and commander-in-chief, followed by the people. On the reverse side of the composition, you can see two captives of Salah ad-Din - the defeated leaders of the Crusaders Guy de Lusignan and Reno de Chatillon.

Now the monument to Salah ad-Din is the most popular attraction of Damascus and a recognizable symbol of the city. Sultan Salah al-Din is one of the most revered figures in Islam, and his monument invariably attracts Muslim tourists. However, the skill and expressiveness of the statue can impress even a completely non-religious person.