The Lost Peace: Euphrates River Research Assignment Paper (Essay Sample)

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The Lost Peace
To most people, a mention of the name ‘Syria’ brings about a reflection of the misery, faced by those in that region. Also, in consideration is the number of Syrian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries as a result of the civil war. A flashback on Syria yields memories of it being rich, and agriculturally productive, with a well-known historical background. One of the most renown exports from that country was a unique flask that caught many people’s attention. The flask had symbolic art that reflected Syria that existed before the war.
The flask is a representative of the 12th-century products, possibly produced in a city called Raqqah that was located along the North bank of the Euphrates River. Currently, the flask is exhibited at the Museum of Islamic Art. The display is on the second floor of that building and is sited next to the Charger from Turkey, the Inkwell from Afghanistan among many other past art displays. The material making up the flask of Syria is a gilded blue glass. It has a height of 18-20 inches, and a width of 6 inches, and is placed in a grey wooden box display. The box is kept in a platform whose background color is grey. The display is illuminated, hence resulting in an enhancement of its elements. Descriptions of the art are also provided in English and Arabic. However, an audio recording is also available.
The stretched shape of the flask, together with the broadening symmetrical top and a conical bottom makes the flask unique. The mouth of the flask is similar to that of a bottle; its neck has gold triangles drawn all round. In addition to that, it has complex patterns made from cobalt blue color, a trend that was mostly evident in fashion during the Byzantine rule in Greece. Underneath the triangles are some fresh leaves sticking out, and birds facing opposite directions. There are also gold spots and scattered leaves all over the flask. A golden design of flowers lies directly below the bird accompanied by a resemblance of leaves and a line made up of spiral figures sandwiched between two circular gold lines. Beneath the lines are two birds that face each other, together with a big tree. Most weight is placed on the central part of the flask. The big tree is made up of circular figures with two stands beneath it. Taking a closer look at the tree reveals a cross, but a further emphasis on the cross shows another line near the bottom, making it not a cross. Some other birds facing different directions are also engraved below the tree, and another zigzag line below which, lies the ...