Wooden musical instruments have been known in Syria since the Phoenicians times.

In fact, the oldest historical musical notation was discovered in the ancient Phoenician city of Ugarit on the northern shores of the Syrian coastline.

The art of making these instruments kept evolving until the middle of the 19th century when the Damascene Oud took its present form.

Today, few Damascene artisans still make this highly sought after instrument, which is widely used in traditional Syrian and Arabic music.