October War Panorama

The Tishreen or October War Panaroma Museum in Damascus commemorates the 1973 October War between Israel, Egypt, and Syria from a decidedly Syrian perspective. The external grounds of the museum feature Russian-built tanks and jets used by Syria during the war, as well as captured Israeli weapons with placards highlighting that the weapons are “Made in the U.S.A.”

The museum and its exhibits were built in collaboration with North Korea, which is evident from the socialist-realist concrete friezes near the museum’s entrance, as well as the painted portrait of former Syrian President Hafez al-Asad hand-in-hand with former North Korean Leader Kim il-Sung featured in the main gallery. The gallery is full of Asad family portraits, but its true gem is the wall-sized North Korean-painted mural depicting Hafez al-Asad in populist ecstasy as he is thronged by his people.

The main event of the museum is the 3D panorama depicting the October War battle for Quneitra in the Golan Heights. While sitting on a rotating platform, visitors are submerged in the battle with pre-recorded Arabic narration from speakers.