The Pillar of Marjeh Al-Hasheesh square in Damascus, or the Qalawun monument, which is exhibited in the garden of the National Museum of Damascus. It is an octagonal column made of white stone with historical inscriptions. The incident, which was recorded and inscribed on the ribs of the octagonal column, in Arabic, Diwani script, narrates the news of the arrival of Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil bin Qalawun, one of the sons of the Mamluks of Egypt, 1290 CE, to Damascus, and his participation in an equestrian and arms competition. The competition was to deliver the arrow as far as possible and the one who has the farthest throw will prevail. It was more than 955 cubits away! (nearly 669 m). Khalil Qalawun’s throw was a huge record at the time. And according to the culture of the era, they wrote what had happened on a pillar and erected it in the place of the fall of the Sultan’s arrow, a new target for which the competitors would compete.
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