Famous Syrian People

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 1 
Ignatius of Antioch
(Syrian Bishop)
Ignatius of Antioch
6
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Roman Syria
Died: 0108 AD

Ignatius of Antioch went down in history as a man who was arrested and executed for his non-allegiance to Roman gods. The seven letters he wrote while being escorted from Antioch to Rome as a prisoner later served as a mirror that reflected his concern for Christianity, against false teachings.

 2 
Asma al-Assad
(First Lady of Syria)
Asma al-Assad
14
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 11, 1975
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Acton

Born to Syrian-origin parents in Britain, Asma al-Assad is now the First Lady of Syria, through her marriage to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. In 2021, an investigation related to her alleged involvement in war crimes in Syria was opened, which if proven could strip her of her British citizenship.

 3 
Zenobia
(Queen of Palmyra Who Revolted against Rome but Was Eventually Defeated)
Zenobia
0
Birthdate: 0240 AD
Birthplace: Palmyra
Died: 0274 AD

A 3rd-century queen of the Roman colony of Palmyra, which is in present-day Syria, Zenobia took over as the regent of her son, Wahballat, after the assassination of her husband, Odaenathus. She conquered Egypt and much of Asia Minor. Though she declared her independence from Rome, she was defeated eventually.

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 4 
Amin al-Hafiz
(Former President of Syria)
Amin al-Hafiz
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 12, 1921
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Aleppo
Died: December 17, 2009
Amin al-Hafiz was a Syrian politician best remembered for his service as the President of Syria from 1963 to 1966. An important politician, al-Hafiz also served as the Prime Minister of Syria on two separate occasions; from 1963 to 1964 and again from 1964 to 1965. In the 2019 TV series The Spy, Amin al-Hafiz was played by Waleed Zuaiter.  
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 5 
Bashar al-Assad
(President of Syria)
Bashar al-Assad
67
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 11, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Damascus

Bashar al-Assad is the current president of Syria and has been serving in this position since 17 July 2000. Over the years, he has also had a major impact on Syria as the commander-in-chief of the country's Armed Forces. In 2011, his decision to impose military sieges on protesters participating in the Arab Spring resulted in the ongoing Syrian Civil War.

 6 
Moustapha Akkad
(For producing the original series of Halloween films and directing The Message and Lion of the Desert)
Moustapha Akkad
1
Birthdate: July 1, 1930
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Aleppo
Died: November 11, 2005
 7 
Baibars
(Sultan of Egypt)
Baibars
2
Birthdate: July 19, 1223
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cumania
Died: July 1, 1277
 8 
John of Damascus
(Saint, Best Known for His Strong Defence of 'Icons')
John of Damascus
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 0676 AD
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: December 4, 0749

John of Damascus was a Christian apologist, priest, and monk. A polymath, John contributed to various fields, such as philosophy, theology, law, and music. He also wrote several works explaining the Christian faith. The hymns which he composed are still used in Eastern Christian practice as well as in western Lutheranism.

 9 
Jacob in Islam
(Islamic Prophet)
Jacob in Islam
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Syria
 10 
Nizar Qabbani
(Diplomat)
Nizar Qabbani
5
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 21, 1923
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: April 30, 1998

Nizar Qabbani was a Syrian writer, diplomat, publisher, and poet. Renowned for incorporating themes like eroticism, religion, love, feminism, and Arab nationalism into his poetry, Qabbani's poems have achieved worldwide acclaim; they have been translated into many languages, including English and Russian. Regarded as Syria's National Poet, Qabbani is also one of the most respected poets in the Arab world.

 11 
St. Simeon Stylites
(Saint)
St. Simeon Stylites
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 0390 AD
Birthplace: Kozan
Died: September 2, 0459
 12 
Ibn an-Nafīs
(Polymath)
Ibn an-Nafīs
0
Birthdate: 1213 AD
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: December 17, 1288
 13 
Jacob
(Religious leader)
Jacob
0
Listed In: Leaders
Birthplace: Canaan
 14 
Asmahan
(Actress)
Asmahan
2
Birthdate: November 25, 1912
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Syria
Died: July 14, 1944
 15 
Ananias of Damascus
(Syrian Priest)
Ananias of Damascus
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Damascus
 16 
Abd al-Rahman I
(Ruler)
Abd al-Rahman I
1
Birthdate: 0731 AD
Birthplace: Palmyra
Died: August 31, 0788
 17 
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
(The 10th Umayyad Caliph Who Built Many Palaces and Reformed His Kingdom's Taxation System)
Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik
0
Birthdate: 0691 AD
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: February 6, 0743

The 10th Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik reigned during a relatively calm period. His main goal was to defend the vast empire that he had inherited. He built countless castles and palaces in Syria. He is also believed to have reformed the agricultural taxation system of his kingdom.

 18 
Hafez al-Assad
(18th President of Syria)
Hafez al-Assad
13
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 6, 1930
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Al Qardahah
Died: June 10, 2000
Hafez al-Assad was the Syrian president from 1971 to 2000. He also served as the country’s prime minister from 1970 to 1971. The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party leader was part of the 1963 coup that dethroned President Nazim al-Kudsi and the 1966 coup which made him the Syrian defense minister.
 19 
Odaenathus
(King)
Odaenathus
0
Birthdate: 0220 AD
Birthplace: Palmyra
Died: 0267 AD
 20 
Maron
(Saint)
Maron
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Syria Prima
Died: 0410 AD
 21 
Antiochus I Soter
(King)
Antiochus I Soter
0
Birthdate: 0324 BC
Birthplace: Macedonia
Died: 0261 BC
 22 
Saints Sergius and Bacchus
(Christian Saint)
Saints Sergius and Bacchus
4
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Syria
 23 
Yazid I
(Second Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate)
Yazid I
7
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 20, 0646
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rif-Dimashq Governorate
Died: November 12, 0683

Yazid I reigned as the caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate from 680 until his death in 683. The second caliph of the caliphate, Yazid's appointment was the first succession based on hereditary in the history of Islam. His caliphate was marked by the commencement of the Second Fitna, a period of military and political disorder in the Islamic community.

 24 
Feras Antoon
(Syrian-Canadian Pornographer & Co-owner and CEO of 'Mindgeek', the World's Largest Pornography Company)
Feras Antoon
7
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: June 29, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Damascus

Canadian pornographer Feras Antoon is best known as co-founder and CEO of the privately held Canadian company called MindGeek that mainly focuses on pornography. It is considered to be the largest pornography company across the world and runs many popular pornographic video sharing websites like Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, and also adult film production companies like Brazzers and Reality Kings.

 25 
Al-Ma'arri
(One of the Best Classical Arabic Poets of All Time)
Al-Ma'arri
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Ma`arat al-Nu`man
Died: April 30, 1057

Al-Ma'arri was an Arab poet, philosopher, and writer. Counted among the best classical Arabic poets of all time, Al-Ma'arri was also regarded as a controversial rationalist. He advocated social justice and opposed all forms of violence. Some of his best known works include The Tinder Spark, The Epistle of Forgiveness, and Unnecessary Necessity.
 

 26 
Michel Aflaq
(Philosopher)
Michel Aflaq
2
Birthdate: January 9, 1909
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ḥamāh
Died: June 23, 1989
 27 
Imad ad-Din Zengi
(Ruler)
Imad ad-Din Zengi
0
Birthdate: 1085 AD
Birthplace: Aleppo
Died: September 14, 1146
 28 
Najwa bin Laden
(Osama bin Laden's ex-wife)
Najwa bin Laden
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1960 AD
Birthplace: Syria
 29 
Shukri al-Quwatli
(The First President of Post-Independence Syria)
Shukri al-Quwatli
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: May 6, 1891
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: June 30, 1967

Shukri al-Quwatli was not just the 8th president of Syria but also its first president post-independence. He was part of the National Bloc and also led the Syrian anti-colonialist movement. He was overthrown by a coup, imprisoned, and exiled. Re-elected later, he was merely a nominal head.

 30 
Dündar Aliosman
(Ruler)
Dündar Aliosman
3
Birthdate: December 30, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Damascus
 31 
Publilius Syrus
(Latin Writer Best Remembered for His Sententiae, a Collection of Brief Moral Sayings)
Publilius Syrus
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0085 BC
Died: 0043 BC

Publilius Syrus was a Latin writer best remembered for his sententiae, a collection of brief moral sayings. He was also a popular mime artist who drew the attention of famous political figures like Julius Caesar. Publilius Syrus' work, especially his sententiae, has inspired people like Seneca the Younger and William Shakespeare.
 

 32 
Ibn Kathīr
(Historian)
Ibn Kathīr
2
Birthdate: 1301 AD
Birthplace: Busra
Died: February 13, 1373
 33 
Wafa Sultan
(Syrian-American Writer, Physician, and Critic of Islam)
Wafa Sultan
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 14, 1958
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Baniyas
Wafa Sultan is a Syrian-American writer, physician, and critic of Islam. In 2006, Time magazine included her in its 100 influential people in the world list. The same year, Wafa Sultan was honored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation with the Freethought Heroine Award for her radical political and religious views.
 34 
Rifaat al-Assad
(Syrian General Who Supposedly Supervised ‘Hama Massacre’ and Later Served as the Vice President of Syria)
Rifaat al-Assad
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 22, 1937
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Al Qardahah

Syrian politician and former military personnel Rifaat Ali al-Assad, brother of late President of Syria, Hafez Assad, and uncle of current President Bashar al-Assad, served as Vice President of Syria from March 1984 to February 1998. According to some sources, he allegedly supervised Hama massacre (1982), carried out by the Syrian Army, resulting in suppression of Islamist insurgency in Syria.

 35 
Hashim al-Atassi
(Three-Time President of Syria Who Was Known for His Affinity to Constitutional Rule)
Hashim al-Atassi
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 11, 1875
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Homs
Died: December 5, 1960

Three-time president of Syria, Hashim al-Atassi was a nationalist. Born into a landowning family, he began his political career serving as the governors of places such as Hama, Anatolia, and Baalbek. Known for his adherence to constitutional means of governance, he was respected by his opponents, too.

 36 
Tatian
(Assyrian Writer and Theologian)
Tatian
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 0120 AD
Died: 0180 AD
Tatian was an Assyrian writer and theologian. He is best remembered for his attempt to merge the texts of all four gospels into a single narrative of Jesus Christ's life and death; his work came to be known as the Diatessaron. The Syriac-speaking churches adopted the Diatessaron as the standard text of the four gospels until the 5th century.
 37 
Sophronius of Jerusalem
(Patriarch of Jerusalem)
Sophronius of Jerusalem
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 0560 AD
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: March 11, 0638
Sophronius of Jerusalem served as the Patriarch of Jerusalem from 634 to 638. He is revered as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Prior to his rise to the primacy of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Sophronius of Jerusalem served as a theologian and monk.
 38 
Nesreen Tafesh
(Actress)
Nesreen Tafesh
2
Birthdate: February 15, 1982
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Aleppo
 39 
Muhammed Faris
4
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 26, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Aleppo

Muhammed Faris is a Syrian aviator who became the first Syrian to spend time in space. He also played an important role in the Syrian Civil War. In 1987, Faris was honored with the Hero of the Soviet Union title. In September 2017, he was appointed as the Syrian Interim Government's defense minister.

 40 
Julia Maesa
(Roman aristocrat)
Julia Maesa
0
Birthdate: May 7, 0160
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Homs Emesa
Died: 0224 AD
 41 
Theophilus Of Antioch
(Apologist and Patriarch of Antioch)
Theophilus Of Antioch
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Mesopotamia
Died: 0184 AD
Theophilus of Antioch was the Apologist and Patriarch of Antioch from 169 to 182. He made immense contributions to Christian literature, exegetics, apologetics, and polemics. Theophilus of Antioch is also credited with writing a series of books titled Apology to Autolycus, which defends Christianity.
 42 
Salah Jadid
(Syrian General and Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Leader)
Salah Jadid
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1926 AD
Birthplace: Dwaer Baabda
Died: August 19, 1993

Syrian general Salah Jadid was a prominent leader of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria, also known as the Syrian Regional Branch, which he led as its Assistant Regional Secretary. He became the de facto ruler of Syria but was eventually ousted by the Corrective Revolution of Hafez al-Assad.

 43 
Seleucus IV Philopator
(Ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, reigned from 187 BC to 175 BC)
Seleucus IV Philopator
0
Birthdate: 0218 AD
Birthplace: Syria
Died: September 3, 0175
 44 
Iamblichus
(Philosopher)
Iamblichus
1
Birthdate: 0245 AD
Birthplace: Qinnasrin
Died: 0325 AD
 45 
Omar Bakri Muhammad
(Syrian Sunni Islamist Cleric Who Supported Terrorist Organizations in the UK)
Omar Bakri Muhammad
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1958 AD
Birthplace: Aleppo

A prominent Sunni Islamist cleric from Syria, Omar Bakri Muhammad had a significant contribution to the development of the pan-Islamist fundamental organization Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK. He later switched to the Saudi Arabia-based militant group Al-Muhajiroun. He eventually fled to Lebanon, where he was sentenced to prison for terrorism.

 46 
Demetrius I Soter
(Ruler)
Demetrius I Soter
0
Birthdate: 0187 BC
Birthplace: Syria
Died: 0150 BC
 47 
Damascius
(Last Scholarch of the 'School of Athens')
Damascius
0
Birthdate: 0458 AD
Birthplace: Damascus
Died: 0538 AD
One of the pagan philosophers oppressed by Emperor Justinian I, Damascius was a scholarch of the School of Athens. Among his extant works are commentaries on the works of Greek philosopher, Plato. Damascius started his career as a professor of rhetoric and went on to serve as the principal of the School of Athens.
 48 
Numerian
(Emperor)
Numerian
1
Birthdate: 0254 AD
Died: November 20, 0284
 49 
Mustafa Hamsho
(Boxer)
Mustafa Hamsho
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 10, 1953
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Latakia
 50 
Thaddeus of Edessa
(Priest)
Thaddeus of Edessa
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Edessa
Died: 0050 AD