Homs is the 3rd most
important city in Syria. It lies 160 km to the north of Damascus. Homs,
which was called Mesa in ancient times, was the third station on the
Silk route after Dura Europos and Palmyra.
Unfortunately, ancient
earthquakes destroyed many buildings and citadels in Homs. There remains
only one citadel in the south of the city with its Damascus and Palmyra
gates.
This historical city
produced many impressive personalities. Bassianos (an emir of Homs),
through his daughter's marriage to the Roman emperor, Septimium Severus,
who ruled Rome from 193 to 211 AD, sired three rulers, Caracalla,
Heliogabalus and Alexander Severus. The city was the birthplace of the
famous Syrian philosopher, Longenius, counselor to Queen Zenobia, and of
the famous physician, Marlian.
Among the most
significant historic constructions remaining in Homs is the mosque of
Khalid ibn Al-Walid, the great commander of the Muslim Arab armies. Two
very tall white-stone minarets lend lightness to the imposing structure.
The slender colonnade in black and white stone in horizontal rows is
representative of traditional Syrian architecture.
Many churches still
stand in Homs from the days of early Christianity in Syria. One of these
churches is said to possess the girdle of the Blessed Virgin. The church
of St. Elian is unique for its collection of fine frescoes discovered in
1970. These bear inscriptions in Greek and Arabic, and date back to the
end of the 12th century.
The Nuri mosque also
dates back to the 12th century, distinguished for its beautiful
entrance.
In Homs museum, there
are many archaeological artifacts dating back to the ancient Syrian,
Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Arab eras.
The Qattina lake is 15 km from Homs, it is
rich in fish, and has the first rainwater dam used in agriculture which
dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. Close to this lake is the
archaeological hill called Tel Ennabi Mand (Qadesh), where a historic
battle took place between the Hittites and the Egyptians in the 13th
century BC.
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