The Street called Straight

	Rust holes in the corrugated iron canopy are the only illumination in Straight Street

People go to Damascus for various reasons: some just because it is the capital of Syria; others looking for Damascene crafts such as swords, carpets or silverware; many, however, to see the places associated with St Paul.

According to the New Testament story, St Paul was on his way to Damascus with murder in mind, but shortly before arriving at the city, he was knocked off his horse by a Divine light which left him temporarily blind but completely and permanently revolutionised in his thinking.

He was led into the city and found lodging in a street known as "Straight Street" and there, three days later, not only received back his sight, but also became a Christian and thus entered into history as one of its pivotal characters. The life work of kings and conquerors has passed away, but St Paul's influence on the world endures to this day, primarily through the letters which he wrote.

Well, all that is by way of introduction to this short film, which begins with the Roman gate at one end of Straight Street - yes, it still exists in Damascus - and ends in the covered bazaar at the other end. The speaker, David Down, is head of Digging Up The Past, an Australian educational foundation which commissioned us to produce a film called Solomon's Kingdom. That DVD is available to purchase on the Diggings website.

The second film in this section features another street which runs parallel to the Street called Straight, just one block away from the more famous thoroughfare.