Maryana Marrash
Encyclopedia
Maryana bint Fathallah bin Nasrallah Marrash (Arabic
: / ALA-LC: Maryānā bint Fatḥallāh bin Naṣrallāh Marrāsh; 1848–1919), was a Syrian writer
and poet
of the Nahda movement (the Arabic renaissance). She brought the tradition of literary salon
s back into the Middle East. She was the first Syrian female poet to publish a collection of poetry. She also seems to have been the first woman to write in the Arab daily newspapers. Prominent author Sami Kayyali said about Marrash:
, a city of Ottoman Syria
(present-day Syria
), to an old and respected Melkite
family known for its literary interests. The family was well established in Aleppo, although they had gone through troubles: Maryana's uncle, Butrus Marrash, was martyred by Orthodox fundamentalists on April 16, 1818. Other Melkite Catholics were exiled from Aleppo during the persecutions, and among them the priest Jibrail Marrash. Fathallah, Maryana's father, wrote a blasphemous book and created another scandal. He was a man of letters, and had built up a huge private library to give his three children Francis
, Abdallah
and Maryana a thorough education, particularly in the field of Arabic language and literature. Aleppo was then a major literary and philosophical center of the Ottoman Empire
, featuring many thinkers and writers concerned with the future of the Arabs. It was in the French religious schools that the Marrash family learnt Arabic
with French
, and other foreign languages (Italian
and English
). Maryana first went to a Maronite school. Later on she was educated by the nuns of St. Joseph in Aleppo. She finally went to an English school in Beirut
. In addition to her formal education in missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut, where she was exposed both to French and Anglo-Saxon cultures, she was tutored by her father and brothers, especially on the subject of Arabic literature.
Marrash began her involvement in the world of letters by contributing articles and poems to journals, especially Lisan al-hal and al-Jinan (both of Beirut). In her articles she criticized the condition of Arab women, and urged them to seek education and speak out on matters of concern to them. Her collection of poetry Bint fikr (A Daughter of Thought) was printed in Beirut in 1893. Marrash obtained a permit from the Ottoman government to print her book after composing a poem in which she had praised the Sultan Abdul Hamid II
. Her non-fiction works include Tarikh Suriya al-hadith (The History of Modern Syria), the first book in this field.
Like her brothers, she toured several European countries and was impressed by what she saw of life there. Back in Aleppo, she turned her house into a gathering place for celebrated writers who met there on a regular basis to discuss literature, music, and political and social issues, in a lively atmosphere animated by Marrash's piano and the guests' lutes and oboes. Indeed, apart from the intellectual discourse in which she was fully engaged, she used to entertain her salon participants by singing and playing the canon. The members of her circle included the leading intellectuals of the city, most notably al-Kawakibi
, but also Qustaki al-Himsi
, Jibrail al-Dallal, Kamil al-Ghazzi, Rizqallah Hassun and Victor Khayyat, in addition to some politicians and members of the foreign diplomatic corps. Antun Sha'rawi describes an evening spent at Marrash's salon:
She initially wished to remain single, but after her mother's death she was persuaded to marry. She chose for husband Habib Ghadban, a scion of a respectable local Christian family, and eventually outlived him. They had one son and two daughters.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: / ALA-LC: Maryānā bint Fatḥallāh bin Naṣrallāh Marrāsh; 1848–1919), was a Syrian writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the Nahda movement (the Arabic renaissance). She brought the tradition of literary salon
Women's literary salons and societies in the Arab World
The tradition of women's literary circles in the Arab World dates back to the pre-Islamic period when the eminent literary figure, Al-Khansa, would stand in the 'Ukaz market in Mecca, reciting her poetry and airing her views on the scholarship of others...
s back into the Middle East. She was the first Syrian female poet to publish a collection of poetry. She also seems to have been the first woman to write in the Arab daily newspapers. Prominent author Sami Kayyali said about Marrash:
The emergence of a woman writing in the press and composing poetry in this dark era was a significant event. Our recent history shows that it was rare for even men to read and write; her appearance in these dark nights was thus like a bright star in the center of the heavens.
Life
Maryana Marrash was born in AleppoAleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, a city of Ottoman Syria
Ottoman Syria
Ottoman Syria is a European reference to the area that during European Renaissance from the late 15th to early 18th century was called the Levant within the early period of the Ottoman Empire, the Orient until the early 19th century, and Greater Syria until 1918...
(present-day Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
), to an old and respected Melkite
Melkite
The term Melkite, also written Melchite, refers to various Byzantine Rite Christian churches and their members originating in the Middle East. The word comes from the Syriac word malkāyā , and the Arabic word Malakī...
family known for its literary interests. The family was well established in Aleppo, although they had gone through troubles: Maryana's uncle, Butrus Marrash, was martyred by Orthodox fundamentalists on April 16, 1818. Other Melkite Catholics were exiled from Aleppo during the persecutions, and among them the priest Jibrail Marrash. Fathallah, Maryana's father, wrote a blasphemous book and created another scandal. He was a man of letters, and had built up a huge private library to give his three children Francis
Francis Marrash
Francis bin Fathallah bin Nasrallah Marrash , also known as Francis al-Marrash or Francis Marrash al-Halabi, was a Syrian writer and poet of the Nahda movement...
, Abdallah
Abdallah Marrash
Abdallah bin Fathallah bin Nasrallah Marrash , was a writer involved in various Arabic-language newspaper ventures in London and Paris.-Life:...
and Maryana a thorough education, particularly in the field of Arabic language and literature. Aleppo was then a major literary and philosophical center of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, featuring many thinkers and writers concerned with the future of the Arabs. It was in the French religious schools that the Marrash family learnt Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
with French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and other foreign languages (Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
). Maryana first went to a Maronite school. Later on she was educated by the nuns of St. Joseph in Aleppo. She finally went to an English school in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. In addition to her formal education in missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut, where she was exposed both to French and Anglo-Saxon cultures, she was tutored by her father and brothers, especially on the subject of Arabic literature.
Marrash began her involvement in the world of letters by contributing articles and poems to journals, especially Lisan al-hal and al-Jinan (both of Beirut). In her articles she criticized the condition of Arab women, and urged them to seek education and speak out on matters of concern to them. Her collection of poetry Bint fikr (A Daughter of Thought) was printed in Beirut in 1893. Marrash obtained a permit from the Ottoman government to print her book after composing a poem in which she had praised the Sultan Abdul Hamid II
Abdul Hamid II
His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans, Caliph of the Faithful was the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire...
. Her non-fiction works include Tarikh Suriya al-hadith (The History of Modern Syria), the first book in this field.
Like her brothers, she toured several European countries and was impressed by what she saw of life there. Back in Aleppo, she turned her house into a gathering place for celebrated writers who met there on a regular basis to discuss literature, music, and political and social issues, in a lively atmosphere animated by Marrash's piano and the guests' lutes and oboes. Indeed, apart from the intellectual discourse in which she was fully engaged, she used to entertain her salon participants by singing and playing the canon. The members of her circle included the leading intellectuals of the city, most notably al-Kawakibi
Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi
‘Abd al-Raḥman al-Kawākibī was a Syrian author and Pan-Islamic Arab solidarity supporter from Aleppo. He was one of the most prominent intellectuals of his time; however, his thoughts and writings continue to be relevant to the issues of Islamic identity and Pan-Arabism...
, but also Qustaki al-Himsi
Qestaki al-Homsi
Qusṭākī al-Ḥimṣī was a Syrian writer and poet of the Nahda movement , a prominent figure in the Arabic literature of the 19th and 20th centuries and one of the first reformers of the traditional Arabic poetry...
, Jibrail al-Dallal, Kamil al-Ghazzi, Rizqallah Hassun and Victor Khayyat, in addition to some politicians and members of the foreign diplomatic corps. Antun Sha'rawi describes an evening spent at Marrash's salon:
Wearing either all black or all white dresses ordered from Paris, Marrash hosted the mixed evening get-togethers in which literary topics as varied as the Mu`alaqat, a cycle of seven pre-Islamic poems or the work of Rabelais were discussed. Chess and card games were played, and complicated poetry competitions took place; wine and `araq flowed freely; participants sang, danced, and listened to records played on a phonograph.
She initially wished to remain single, but after her mother's death she was persuaded to marry. She chose for husband Habib Ghadban, a scion of a respectable local Christian family, and eventually outlived him. They had one son and two daughters.
Works
- Bint fikr (A Daughter of Thought), Beirut, 1893
- Tārīkh Sūriyah al-ḥadīth (The History of Modern Syria)