In the heart of Damascus’s Jisr Al-Abyad neighborhood stands an old stone building, its gloomy facade and shuttered windows making it one of the city’s most notorious haunted houses. Locals know it as the Abrash House, a place wrapped in tales of djinn, vanishing families, and unexplained events.
Blending urban legend with curious media reports, the house remains a landmark of Damascus’s folklore.
Urban Legends and Popular Tales
1- Built on a Cemetery
According to local lore, the house was constructed over an old cemetery—a fact said to have cursed everyone who lived there.
2- The Workers Who Died
Stories claim that more than 13 workers died during construction, some of them allegedly falling from the stairs as if pushed by invisible hands.
3- The Disappearance of a Family
Among the most chilling stories is that of the Abrash family, who moved in during the 1940s and mysteriously vanished, leaving behind their clothes, money, and jewelry. One of the children supposedly left behind a diary with this haunting line: “Mother is silent. Father eats everything. My sister laughs and walks… soon I will too.”
4- Nighttime Phenomena
Some neighbors say they saw the lights flickering on and off, and heard strange noises after dark. Locals still warn: “If you hear your mother’s voice calling you from inside the house, don’t answer—it’s not her.”
5- Temporary Tenants
- A Russian research team reportedly rented the house for two days before one member took his own life.
- An Iraqi refugee family lost their child without a trace while living there.
- A group of female teachers suffered seizures and lost their teeth after staying for a short time.
The Legend in Media and Film
The house has inspired several works of art, including shorts and an independent film titled 'Al-Jisr Al-Abyad,' which drew on these stories. Such projects revived interest in the legend across social media.
Voices of Doubt and Documentation
1- The Family’s Perspective
Raed Al-Abrash, a member of the owning family, stated in interviews that they have held the house since the 1960s and dismissed the ghost stories as mere rumors with no basis in fact.
2- What the Neighbors Say
Nearby residents say they have never seen or heard anything unusual during the past twenty years, suggesting the house’s reputation might stem from family disputes or its long-abandoned state.
3- Investigative Journalism
Media investigations attribute the eerie mystique to the house’s derelict appearance—its locked doors and crumbling facade capture the public imagination. Journalists suggest the real reasons for its closure are more likely bureaucratic or related to inheritance than anything supernatural.
In the end, the Abrash House in Jisr Al-Abyad is more than an old building; it’s become an urban legend reflecting how places and collective imagination entwine. While some see it as a place haunted by djinn and evil spirits, the owners and neighbors insist these tales are nothing more than rumors born of abandonment.
Today, the house stands as proof of how deserted buildings can become the stage for urban legends—regardless of what the investigations reveal about real-life hauntings.
About the Author
No comments:
Post a Comment