16 Items
Hawwarin
Hawwarin was known as Evaria in late antiquity and is recorded as being the seat of two bishoprics. It appears to date from the Roman era as there is extensive evidence of Roman spolia in the Byzantine remains in the town. The local population talk of there having been seven basilicas in the settlement and evidence of three of these is still extant, although only one has been excavated thus far - by a Syrian team led by Wedad Khoury of the DGAM. The Roman dressed limestone blocks were carried to the site from some distance away as there are no quarries in the vicinity of the town and the modern dwellings are mud brick or cement. At the centre of the settlement is the mysterious "burj" or tower, which local people believe to have been part of an Umayyad hunting lodge, but which is built with Roman spoil and may well date from the Byzantine period as its nearest equivalent structure is the C6th stone tower at Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi. However, unlike the Qasr and neighbouring Khans/Caravanserai this tower has entrances to both the north and south rather than the single entrance that is the norm for such structures.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Archaeological Excavation, Architecture, Basilica, Byzantine, Castle, Church, Evaria, Hawwarin, Limestone, Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi, Roman, Syria, Tower, Umayyad
Kfellusin Tower
This is a similar tower to that at nearby Sergibleh and again would have served as both a dwelling for several families and a place of refuge for villagers at a time of attack.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Jebel Halaqa, Kfellusin, Late Antique, Limestone Massif, Sergibleh, Syria, Tower
Sergibleh Tower
This tower stands in the village of Sergibleh on the Jebel Halaqa and was a form of high-density accommodation in late antiquity as well as a place of refuge for villagers at a time of attack.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Jebel Halaqa, Late Antique, Limestone Massif, Sergibleh, Syria, Tower
Qalb Lozeh
The church in the village of Qalb Lozeh ("Heart of the Almond") is the largest in the region and dates from the C5th. It is surrounded by the modern village and is one of the best preserved churches in the area, although the north side has been damaged and a new wall has been built to secure the monument. At one point the church had a bema in the nave, but this was removed and the outline of the former platform is still visible in the flagstones. It is also notable for its impressive western façade that is flanked by two bell towers.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bema, C5th, Church, Jebel Il'Ala, Limestone Massif, Qalb Lozeh, Syria, Tower
Sitt er Rum
The small settlement of Sitt er Rum is west of Qalat Seman one the other side of the valley. Its most complete extant monument is the late antique tower beside the road to Zar Zita and Qatura.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Jebel Seman, Late Antique, Limestone Massif, Qalat Seman, Qatura, Sitt er Rum, Syria, Tower, Zar Zita
Sheikh Sulaiman C6th church
This church is very well preserved with the portico and a tower still extant. There is some speculation that the tower could once have been the dwelling of a hermit due to the stylite imagery on the portico and because the whole complex was constructed a short distance away from the village.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, C6th, Church, Jebel Seman, Limestone Massif, Sheikh Sulaiman, Stylite, Syria, Tower