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The
Paganism of Palmyra Syria
THE
PAGANISM OF PALMYRA
The city-state of Palmyra in northeast Syria just off the Iraqi highway
was phenomenal. Palmyra is Syria’s start tourist attraction and
one of the world’s most splendid historical sites. Palmyra’s
intriguing history, along with a profusion of colonnades, temple and
funerary towers are mesmerizing in this desert oasis. Palmyra means
the city of Palms (as one would expect on an oasis in the desert).
The ruins mostly are from the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. The history
dates at least to the 2nd millennium B.C. Early rulers included the
Assyrians and Persians and then the Seleucids under the descendants
of Alexander the Great’s empire. This area was an indispensable
staging post for caravans from the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia and Arabia.
It also was important on the silk route from China, India to Europe.
Passage was only permitted by paying a heavy toll (there is nothing
new about toll roads!).
As the Romans became more powerful, Palmyra was permitted to be a free
city and served as a buffer between East and West. The citizens had
equal rights with those of Rome. This all led to great wealth and prosperity.
Zenobia became queen of Palmyra in 267, expanded her kingdom but was
eventually defeated by Emperor Aurelian.
The city fell in 634 to a Muslim army and literally disappeared under
the sands of the desert until 1678 when two English merchants reintroduced
it to the West.
The single most impressive part o the ruins is the temple of Baal (Bel).
This was mostly completed by 32 A.D. and was a major site of pagan worship.
There is a prominent podium of the sacrificial altar with a large canal
leading from it to collect the blood. A million sheep and goats were
killed her yearly. For comparison, Muslim men today go to Mecca once
in their lifetime. Each man is to bring a sheep to sacrifice. During
that special week, over a million sheep are killed yearly creating a
river of blood. This happens every year even now. Palmyra was the center
of pagan worship and continued the worship of Baal as noted in many
texts in the Bible.
The great 1 km colonnaded avenue is really special. Around this are
the theater, Diocletian’s Baths and the Tetrapylon. The Tetrapylon
is a tight grouping of four columns with each of the pillars supporting
150,000 kg of solid cornice. One is of the original pink granite from
Aswan in Egypt. The Valley of the Tombs is very striking. The underground
burial chambers of “the three brothers” is a piece of art
with frescoes, paintings and statuary.
The paganism going on here contemporaneous with the teachings of Jesus
and the apostles presented a strong contrast of beliefs and hope.
THE
LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK - Visit Maloula in Syria
Syria
is truly the Land of the Book. The ancient alphabets of the Near East
grew into Aramaic and then Hebrew, and finally Arabic and the modern
Latin script that you're reading!
Read More .
The
Best of Jordan , Syria and Egypt : A true 21 Grand Tour of the Near
East
For Guests who want the BEST when touring the Middle East
East
Mediterranean Tour : a 19 day private tour of : Greece , Turkey ,
Egypt and Syria
Important
Syria will not issue visas for any passport holder that may carry any
stamp or visa for Israel. Border crossings may take some time, depending
of several circumstances (traffic, police, documentation, visas, etc.)
Dar
Zamaria Hotel – Aleppo – Syria
THE
PROMINENCE OF ALEPPO AND DAMASCUS
These two Syrian cities both claim to be the oldest continually occupied
city in the world. Both lay claim to a 4000-year history of being a
city. We found both of them to be fascinating.
Our introduction to Damascus was at night. We drove into the old walled
city and were let out of our car. We followed our guide through a labyrinthine
of narrow streets to our house-hotel. We knocked on a plain exterior
door and were let in. Inside was a lovely courtyard with balconies,
large decorative pool, plenty of plants all of which led to another
courtyard. Our room was at the far end of the first courtyard. The furnishings
were all dark wood inlayed with mother of pearl. It was breath taking.
The next day we were led throughout the old city. The emphasis was on
the markets (souks) on and just off the street called Straight as recorded
in Scripture Acts 9. We visited the Umayyad Mosque. This is Syria’s
most significant religious structure. A mosque has been here since the
Muslims came in 636 A.D. There were Muslim pilgrims and teachers from
Iran and Saudi Arabia.
After that we toured the lovely Azem Palace which was built in the mid
1700’s. It includes lovely rooms, courtyards and fountains.
Aleppo is located near the Turkish border and the Mediterranean Sea.
Our lodging was likewise in a 300-year-old house with lovely courtyards.
The Citadel was built by the Marmukes, an Islamic dynasty, in the mid
1300’s. It is an impressive fortress on the highest point of the
city.
The souks (markets) were fascinating. We watched the butchering of a
camel. All meat sold is killed that day, as Islamic law requires fresh
meat. The market was not as busy as Damascus and was designed for the
residents, not tourists. Marilyn got some lovely jewelry. She also went
shopping the night before at some shops in our neighborhood. The products
included 2 Bedouin silver pieces for a necklace and a lovely 60-year-old
embroidered tablecloth. We ate that evening at Sissi’s close to
our lodging. We had excellent eggplant ratoulle, cheese bread, mushroom
soup. The best was stopping at a small bakery with a wonderful variety
of pistachio pastries covered in honey!
I will close with HIGHLIGHTS from a variety of places, then zingers
and trip conclusions:
Viajes
En Esapnol : Jordania , Siria Y Libano
Sample
Charming Boutique Hotels in Syria :
Talisman Hotel:
Damascus
Talisman is more than an hotel: it is more like a home. We will provide
you all the services and luxury of a five stars residence. Two wide
opened courtyards with outdoor swimming pool, ..... read more .
Zenobia hotel: Palmyra
built in 1920 … Agatha Christy was one of the welcomed guests
, the Zenobia Hotel is ideally located in the middle of Palmyra archeological
site; rooms offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease.
The
26-room hotel offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease. The hotel is a masterpiece of elegance
and warm hospitality that is part of our commitment to tradition particularly
amidst this historical surrounding. You are welcome to the world of
Zenobia hotel where you relive the past and feel the glorious days of
Palmyra.
The hotel rooms; all are air-conditioned, with central heating and a
telephone. The Countess suite is a duplex room, with two double beds
and a private bathroom on each deck. ( Supplement applies, and you must
really book in advance to get this suite)
The
Oasis restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious cuisine whether
it is indoors or in the open air with a direct view on the ruins.
Palmyra
was known as the bride of the desert, where once stood as one of the
greatest Roman oasis cities of all times. The extensive roman ruins,
only a three-minute walk from the hotel; stand gracefully to remind
us of the glory of Palmyra's past
Beit Wakil Hotel: Aleppo
A true example of the distinguished 16th century Aleppine architecture,is
a charming palace situated just outside the old city walls.This perfectly
preserved structure which has stubbornly defied the destructive elements
of time,ranks among the most elegant and
beautiful palaces in the region.
The
beautiful courtyards with breathtaking relief and tracery work of their
walls, the marble fountains among the jasmine and lemon trees, the unique
iwan with its majestic arch and colors marble flooring,the elegant arabesque
woodwork of the wall cupboards,the hand drawn wooden ceilings with corniche,
the famous central Qa'a (large room: Lobby ) with its suspended dome
and coloured arabesque glass windows,the stone built cellars and the
lime stone caves below with a labyrinth of tunnels , one of which ,
links the palace to the Citadel of Aleppo , are just few of the many
elements which distinguishes the Aleppine masonry art and Arabian architectural
genius
Today,
Beit Wakil welcomes its guests as a four star hotel with all the modern
comfort facilities. Beit Wakil rooms and suits are centrally air conditioned,
with traditional comfortable Aleppine furniture, minibar, music, T.
V and satellite services, phone and private bathrooms. Both our summer
and winter restaurants offer a wide verity of delicious Aleppine mezes
and specialties together with an oriental entertainment program of classical
Arabic music and dancing.
Aleppo
includes a virile population, a splendid architecture,and a fine Arab
tradition. Aleppo AL-Chahba, 355 Kilometers from Damascus, has been
a prosperous city since the 3rd millennium B.C. and has maintained its
status through town development and an increasing population. It has
played a vital role in the history of the area from the time of the
Akkadian and Amorite Kingdoms. Until recently it has always been the
center of the junction of the ancient trade routs. The old city was
surrounded by a wall incorporating defense towers and fortified gates
built during the Islamic period. A large part of the wall still standing,
for example Bab Qinisrin, Bab Al-Nasser, Bab Al-Hadid, Bab Antakia.
Aleppo is also known for its mosques and churches and is considered
the third city in the Islamic world because of the number of its mosques
and schools. The Archaeological Museum contains exhibits from the stone
age to modern times. It has particularly interesting collection of antiquities
from some of the most ancient site in Syria (Mari, Ugarit, Ebla) , objects
found in the Euphrates Basin, Hama, Tell Halaf and Ein Dara, in addition
to remains from Greek, Roman, Arab and Islamic periods. Most famous
of Aleppo's sights is the citadel, from where all of the city can be
seen.
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