First we visited the ruins of the Basilica of Saint Simeon (Qala'at Samaan). St Simeon was an eccentric Christian who spent from 423 AD living on a pillar for 36 years.
The Basilica was built after he died to commemorate him. It is now in ruins but was once quite a sight atop a rocky hill.
The Basilica was built after he died to commemorate him. It is now in ruins but was once quite a sight atop a rocky hill.
Next we visited the dead city of Al- Bara. The ruins of a couple of tombs are in the middle of olive and fruit plantations.
Alexander the Great over ran the city and then an earthquake in the 12th century finished off the remains.
Alexander the Great over ran the city and then an earthquake in the 12th century finished off the remains.
The dead city of Serjilla was more extensive and has been deserted for about 15 centuries. The buildings were very large and made from huge blocks of rock with archways inside some of the rooms.
None of the sites have signs or information about them as you are supposed to hire a guide to learn more and they pop up where ever you are willing to offer their services. The locals graze their sheep and goats in and around the ruins and the local kids leave their rubbish inside them so they are not well looked after.
None of the sites have signs or information about them as you are supposed to hire a guide to learn more and they pop up where ever you are willing to offer their services. The locals graze their sheep and goats in and around the ruins and the local kids leave their rubbish inside them so they are not well looked after.
The last place we saw was Ebla, which is still being excavated. It had the foundations of several royal palaces and an area that was used to keep lions for sacrifices. It had signs forbidding people on the excavations and large information boards describing the preservation methods being used to keep the mud brick buildings from deteriorating. 15,000 cuneiform tablets were unearthed from the library here in 1980. The oldest alphabet was also discovered here along with the oldest musical score. When it is completed it will be a popular place.
We had a fast drive back and the taxi managed over 220 kph taking on more powerful buses. The driver managed to avoid cars coming at him on the wrong side of the road and the shepherds kept their sheep from straying in front of us while grazing in the grass strip in the middle of the motorway.
