Maryana Marrash

Maryana Marrash was a Syrian writer and poet of the Nahda or the Arab Renaissance. She revived the tradition of literary salons in the Arab world and was the first Syrian woman to publish a collection of poetry. She may have been the first woman to write in the Arabic-language daily newspapers. She was born in Aleppo, a city of Ottoman Syria (present-day Syria), to an old Melkite family of merchants known for their literary interests. She received a thorough education in Arabic, French, and other foreign languages, as well as mathematics, sciences, and music. She travelled to Europe and was influenced by the European culture and lifestyle. She wrote articles, poems, and a book on the modern history of Syria. She was a pioneer of women's rights and encouraged women to demand education, challenge tradition, and express themselves. She died in Aleppo in 1919 at the age of 71.