Syria Looks

North-Aleppo Countryside

2011-02-25T21:52:00.001+02:00

Sarjella - To World Heritage Sites Soon

2011-02-18T21:48:00.000+02:00

Euphrates Region in Winter

2011-01-21T21:38:00.002+02:00

Burj Eizarara

2011-01-14T08:28:00.001+02:00

Nothing much to see, but the winter sun and beautiful countryside makes the scene worth to be in.

Brad Winter Scenes

2011-01-07T08:07:00.002+02:00

St. Hagop Church in Aleppo (A memory from the 1920-ies)

2010-12-22T13:14:00.000+02:00

Winter Scenes

2010-12-17T20:02:00.000+02:00

Shots taken in north of Aleppo.

Jabal Barakat Ruins

2010-12-03T11:55:00.001+02:00

Krak Des Chevaliers

2010-11-26T22:01:00.000+02:00

Kafarbo Countryside

2010-11-16T11:53:00.001+02:00

Aleppo City Center

2010-10-30T14:25:00.001+02:00

Bab Ayan

2010-10-29T20:17:00.000+02:00

Rainy Day in Aleppo

2010-10-08T20:24:00.000+03:00

Rain and Clouds

Aleppo

Sarmada Columns and Other Places

2010-09-24T20:04:00.000+03:00

Some shots from Aleppo countryside:

Aleika Castle with Other Colors

2010-09-17T20:12:00.000+03:00

Lomo in Bashakuh, Brad, Sarjella and East Syria

2010-05-04T13:08:00.001+03:00

Khanaser

2010-04-23T22:16:00.000+03:00

Banaqfur

2010-04-02T23:01:00.000+03:00

Another byzantine era ruins hidden in the mountains near Hattan village comes to eye just after few kilometers along a narrow road.

Lomo Photography

2010-03-29T10:53:00.001+02:00

Telanissos

2010-03-26T11:49:00.001+02:00

Jouaniyye

2010-03-19T23:19:00.000+02:00

I will not tell where is this place :) in fear of people coming and messing around.

Bara

2010-03-12T23:55:00.000+02:00

Brad

2010-03-06T22:55:00.000+02:00

Rahbeh Castle

2010-02-27T22:59:00.000+02:00

Monument in North DerZor for the Victims of Armenian Genocide

2010-02-27T22:57:00.000+02:00

Raqqa Mosque

2010-02-27T22:49:00.000+02:00

Sukkara Castle

2010-02-27T22:27:00.001+02:00

Dura Europos

2010-02-27T22:26:00.000+02:00

Dura-Europos was a Hellenistic, Parthian and Roman border city built on an escarpment ninety meters above the right bank of the Euphrates river.

It is located near the village of Salhiyé, in today's Syria (34°44.82′N 40°43.85′E / 34.747°N 40.73083°E / 34.747; 40.73083).

Dura-Europos is extremely important for archaeological reasons. As it was abandoned after its conquest in 256–7, nothing was built over it and no later building programs obscured the architectonic features of the ancient city. Its location on the edge of empires meant for a co-mingling of cultural traditions, much of which was preserved under the city's ruins. Some remarkable finds have been brought to light, including numerous temples, wall decorations, inscriptions, military equipment, tombs, and even dramatic evidence of the Sassanian siege during the Imperial Roman period which led to the site's abandonment.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dura_Europos

Sarjella - World Heritage Site To Be

2010-02-23T14:07:00.000+02:00

Bashakuh

2010-02-19T22:17:00.000+02:00

Kafar Hawar

2010-02-05T22:04:00.000+02:00

Sitting in a lonely place between Dana and Sarjeblah, Kafar Hawar is a beautiful place to be.

Around Euphrates

2010-01-22T22:19:00.000+02:00

Der Dahes

2010-01-08T22:57:00.000+02:00

Byzantine monastery just near to another ruined village of Dahes. Lived between 200-600 A.D.

Sarmada Castle

2010-01-01T22:55:00.000+02:00

Sarmada Castle is just lying on a rocky mountain south of Sarmada town. It's from byzantine times.

Bamuqa

2009-11-20T22:16:00.000+02:00

Bamuqa is found on west to Ras-alhosn village in Jabal Barisha region of the Dead Cities.
Dead Cities are ruins from Byzantine Era, lived between 200-600 A.D., and people worked then mainly in olive industry.
They left beautiful architecture which until now amazes nowadays people, and are documents of pride for Syria.

Kafar Aruk - Meez

2009-11-14T22:13:00.001+02:00

LOMO Photography

2009-11-05T15:52:00.000+02:00

These photos are taken by LOMO.

They are in different sites in Syria.

Rocky Coast

2009-10-24T15:42:00.000+03:00

Hard swimming spot for enthusiastics of Mediterranean coast at Badrusiye.

Der Aman

2009-10-23T22:59:00.000+03:00

Byzantine Church Ruins in Kfeir

2009-10-03T15:37:00.000+03:00

Kharab Alshams

2009-10-02T22:00:00.000+03:00

Jabal Ala

2009-09-26T22:58:00.001+03:00

Jaradeh and Ruweiha Byzantine Sites

2009-08-08T23:48:00.000+03:00

Armenian Life

2009-08-02T23:41:00.000+03:00

North-West Syrian Mountainous Region

2009-07-28T13:12:00.003+03:00

Darkush

2009-07-18T23:04:00.000+03:00

Darkush countryside in Idlib District:

Tartous

2009-06-19T23:00:00.000+03:00

The best color of the sea...
A trip to Arwad Island... worth seeing the blue sea and moving like in a see-saw on the boats

The nearby monastery of st. George

Pictures by LOMO

2009-06-09T10:55:00.003+03:00

Lomo is a fantastic camera. It's a film camera, soviet production, which originally was produced for limited-income people. Now after the advent of digitals, Lomo made a robust return, photographers fell in love with it, because it gives you different view away from what you see. It is unpredictable, and so wonderful.

These are by zenit:

North Aleppo Countryside

2009-05-30T21:04:00.000+03:00

Cyrrhus

2009-05-30T21:01:00.000+03:00

Cyrrhus, Cyrrus, or Kyrros (Greek: Κύρρος) was a city in ancient Syria founded by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals. Other names for the city include Hagioupolis, Nebi Huri نبي حوري, Khoros (Arabic حوروس Ḳūrus). Its ruins are found about 14 km northwest of Kilis, Turkey, near the Syrian border.

Cyrrhus was the capital of the extensive district of Cyrrhestica, between the plain of Antioch and Commagene. A false etymology of the sixth century connects it to Cyrus, King of Persia due to the resemblance of the names.

The site of the city is marked by the ruins at Khoros, 14 km northwest of Kilis, near the village of Afrin. The ruins stand near the river Afrin Marsyas River a tributary of the Orontes, which had been banked up by Bishop Theodoret.

Cyrrhus was founded by Seleucus Nicator shortly after 300 BC, and was named for the Macedonian city of Cyrrhus. It was taken by the Armenian Empire in the 1st century BC, then became Roman when Pompey took Syria in 64 BC. By the 1st century AD, it had become a Roman administrative, military, and commercial center on the trade route between Antioch and the Euphrates River crossing at Zeugma, and minted its own coinage.[1] The Persian Empire took it several times during the 3rd century.[2]

In the 6th century, the city was embellished and fortified by Justinian. It was taken by the Muslims in 637 and by the Crusaders in the 11th century. Nur ud-Din recaptured it in 1150. Muslim travelers of the 13th and 14th century report it both as a large city and as largely in ruins.

Church history

Cyrrus became at an early date a suffragan of Hierapolis Bambyce in Provincia Euphratensis. Eight bishops are known before 536 (Lequien, II, 929; E.W. Brooks, The Sixth Book of the Select Letters of Severus, II, 341). The first was present at First Council of Nicaea in 325. The most celebrated is Theodoret (423-58), a prolific writer, well known for his rôle in the history of Nestorianism and Eutychianism. (His works are in Migne, P.G., LXXX-LXXXIV.) He tells us that his small diocese (about forty miles square) contained 800 churches, which supposes a very dense population.

A magnificent basilica held the relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, who had suffered martyrdom in the vicinity about 283, and whose bodies had been transported to the city, whence it was also called Hagioupolis. Many holy personages, moreover, chiefly hermits, had been or were then living in this territory, among them Saints Acepsimas, Zeumatius, Zebinas, Polychronius, Maron (the patron of the Maronite Church), Eusebius, Thalassius, Maris, James the Wonder-worker, and others. Theodoret devoted an entire work to the illustration of their virtues and miracles. Under Justinian, it became an independent ecclesiastical metropolis, subject directly to Antioch. The patriarch, Michael the Syrian, names thirteen Jacobite bishops of Cyrrhus from the ninth to the eleventh century (Revue de l'Orient chrétien, 1901, p. 194). Only two Latin titulars are quoted by Lequien (III, 1195).

It remains a Roman Catholic titular see of the ecclesiastical province of Syria.

(info - wikipedia).

Andarin

2009-05-29T22:26:00.000+03:00

Andarin is one of the places that clearly shows how rich is Syria in history and how much are still under ground hidden, to be discovered.

Andarin is a large area, about 3 square km, now there are seen two churches unearthed, a bathroom complex, and some walls of the city. The work is ongoing and information is changed as time passes.

What is found is from Byzantine era. The structures are built in mud brick with the more significant buildings in stone, the local volcanic basalt. Two streets are found from north-south and east-west.

Inscriptions are found from the years 506 to 583 but assumed that a lot of works (e.g. walls) are older, some dating back to the second century AD. Barracks are found on the north-east of the main intersection about 80 m in length. They date from AD 558, late in Justinian's reign during which he carried out extensive defensive works in northern Syria including Resafe to the east and nearby at Qasr Ibn Wardan.

Justinian's other built structures, it lies south to Andarin by 20 km, Qasr Ibn Wardan:

Breij

2009-05-22T23:36:00.000+03:00

Khrbet Sharqiye

2009-05-22T21:31:00.000+03:00

Going into the stone piles in the summer! Beware of snakes which are freely sliding around. I think Khrbet is locally named place, it means "ruins". A more genuine name is not available. It is from byzantine era ruins, as usual in this area of limestone massifs.

Khawabi Castle

2009-05-15T21:21:00.000+03:00

Khawabi Castle is one of inhabited castles in Syria. It is found in the coastal mountains, near Tartous 20 km towards east.

Not so much things can be seen now, waiting that archaeologists uncover things, and regulate peoples' conditions. Yet, the place is beautiful as many other Syrian castles in the mountains, built on high cliffs and surrounded by deep ravines.

Bakirha

2009-05-01T22:06:00.001+03:00

Dar Qita

2009-05-01T22:06:00.000+03:00

Kseibjeh

2009-04-24T22:04:00.000+03:00

One of the "dead cities" in the Aleppo and Idlib countryside laid on west of Aleppo near Sarmada town. The place lies on a high hill overlooking the road going to Turkey at Bab Alhawa frontier.

Dead Cities are dwellings which flourished between 2-nd and 7-th centuries, their main economy was olive industry, so you can find traces of these everywhere - olive oil mills.

Syrian Countryside Flowers:

A Close Look to The Cathedral of St. Simeon

2009-04-17T22:59:00.000+03:00

The countryside around:

Kesab

2009-04-11T10:15:00.000+03:00

Yakubiye, Qneyye - Oronters Valley Villages

2009-04-03T20:52:00.000+03:00

Springtime scenes from the green countryside of Idlib, the road of Darkush town, and Yakubiye and Qneyye villages.

Kaukanaya

2009-03-27T09:05:00.000+03:00

Kaukanaya is found south to the road uniting Qalb Lozeh with Qorqania little town. You can go directly from Qorqania also.
This site is notable for two tombs seen at the first instance, not far from the road. One of them is covered with pyramidal roof, inscribed 384 A.D. Next in the depth of the mass you see a two storey villa, which is notable for its beautiful columns. The site hosts also ruins of 3 churches.

Nearby countryside looks:

South-east Aleppo Countryside

2009-03-06T12:27:00.000+02:00

Aleppo south-east of this countryside. Interesting, I have not been there, but seems calm and beautiful green in spring.

A Rainy Day's Feel

2009-02-28T09:14:00.000+02:00

Koballi Village's Byzantine Ruins

2009-02-13T12:00:00.000+02:00

North to Aleppo at a distance of 35 km, left to the main road going to Afrin or Azaz towns, Koballi is situated in a rocky area, where ancestors have found suitable place to build their religious buildings.

Apamea

2009-02-06T12:16:00.000+02:00

Kafar Daryan

2009-01-23T09:41:00.000+02:00

Jarablus District and Euphrates River - Winter Scenes

2009-01-16T10:48:00.000+02:00

Kafar Nabo

2009-01-09T10:38:00.000+02:00

St. Simeon (Symeon) Church

2008-12-28T10:35:00.000+02:00

Awesome winter sun at the old ruins.

Turin

2008-12-26T10:06:00.000+02:00

Forgotten in the mountains of Al-Wastani (jabal Al-Wastani), Turin is a small village of 20 homes contains ruins of ancient byzantine structures. Few remained but the area is beautiful.

Behyo

2008-12-19T10:08:00.000+02:00

Found on Jabal Al-Ala, Behyo is one of interesting places in Dead Cities, it is composed of different sizes of blocks of limestone masses, hardly to understand what was there. Tchalenko and his researchers guessed that this place is a later starter than the surrounding other byzantine sites; it is believed that arable lands defficiency brought people here, the harder site.

The site contains villas, farmhouses, and notable olive presses and two churches. One of them "lost in the ruins" and the other still keeps its facade intact, with huge stone blocks fallen inside, suggesting being a community large church.

There is a beautiful view to east to the valley of Hattan village (between Jabal Al-Ala and Jabal Barisha).

Bshendlaya

2008-12-19T10:01:00.000+02:00

Not far from Behyo, this is either more difficult than Behyo to walk.

Sinkhar

2008-12-13T17:49:00.000+02:00

Sinkhar is one of richest places to have many elements of the past, one of most beautiful byzantine remnants.
Location is near to Aleppo, just few kilometers of Batuta, Surkania, Banastur.

kafar antin

Batuta

2008-12-13T17:46:00.000+02:00

This is one of difficult-reached places, you have to walk.
Interesting place, lonely, away from noise and city and people mess.

Kafar-Lusin

2008-12-05T07:44:00.000+02:00

Kafar-Lusa (Kafar-Lucine) is found north to Sarjeblah. A small village spread on a beautiful piece of land and valley, containing ruins from Byzantine era.

Views from countryside nearby:

Der Sita

2008-11-14T11:51:00.000+02:00

Banqusa Byzantine Remnants

2008-11-14T11:45:00.000+02:00

Banqusa is unique in that it is away from nearby villages and away from peoples' popular destinations. Deep in the limestone mass, on a high hill lie the ruins of ancient churches from byzantine era.

Aleppo

2008-11-14T11:44:00.000+02:00

Syria North-West Region - Badrusiye Coasts

2008-11-07T11:34:00.000+02:00

This is a calm place where there is no warmness in the air. Filamentous clouds of the day added a special beauty to the whole scene.

Aleppo Countryside

2008-10-31T11:52:00.000+03:00

The Aleppo countryside is different, west of it is limestone mass, east is agricultural areas, north is olive fields...

Qatoura Graves

2008-10-31T11:47:00.000+03:00

Fedra Byzantine Site

2008-10-31T11:40:00.000+03:00

One of the byzantine sites in Limestone mass of west of Aleppo, beautifully preserved the inscriptions on the walls.

Kahf Castle

2008-10-24T12:08:00.000+03:00

West Syrian Mountainous Region

2008-10-24T12:06:00.000+03:00

Aleppo Countryside

2008-10-17T12:10:00.000+03:00

An afternoon drive in Aleppo countryside, St. Simeon road, which is beautiful for its famous ruins and limestone mass.
Here, the area is quickly getting populated by Aleppean people, new quarters of buildings are built.

Idlib District Autumn Scenes

2008-10-10T11:28:00.000+03:00

Syria Mountainside

2008-09-26T11:16:00.000+03:00

Here is Syria's mountainside villages:

Kansabba

Kirkbizeh - One of Byzantine Heritage Sites

2008-09-19T20:45:00.001+03:00

Kirkbizeh is found on edge of Jabal Ola and overlooks the plain of village Hattan. Tchalenko thinks that the settlers, who joined the community established around the dominant land-holder, needed to supplement their resources with exploitation of grain on the plain below.
At the site it can be seen a third century house, a fourth century church which contain a bema in the single nave, two other villas and remains of six modest farmhouses.
تتمركز قرقبيزة على حافة الوادي الذي ينحدر إليه غربا جبل العلى وشرقا جبل باريشا. والمكان مبني على جبل باريشا. وحسب تشالينكو، احتاج القادمون هنا لاستغلال أراضي السهل لزراعة الحبوب بالاضافة الى الزيتون، الذي كان في يد الاقطاعي هنا آنذاك.
يمكن مشاهدة بناء من القرن الثالث و كنيسة من القرن الرابع الذي يحتوي على بيما، و بنائين آخرين، وست بقايا منازل ريفية.

Syrian Countryside

2008-09-12T15:09:00.000+03:00

Maaret Alnooman

Alghab

Meydanki

2008-08-30T14:57:00.000+03:00

St. Simeon Byzantine Era Ruins

2008-08-15T18:11:00.000+03:00

See the other posts of the same place. Find through tags.

Kesab Mountainous Area

2008-08-04T12:28:00.000+03:00

Damascus Old Streets

2008-07-27T12:06:00.000+03:00

Via Recta street in old Damascus.

Barisha Mountain Byzantine Ruins - Dahes

2008-07-25T18:40:00.001+03:00

Harem Castle

2008-07-11T00:50:00.000+03:00

This castle is built on a high hill, near Harem town at north-west Syria, now very adjacent to Turkish border at Iskenderoun district.

The castle is mentioned primarily during crusades, and was an important stop for attackers and defenders.

Arabic article here.

Tallade

2008-07-04T01:36:00.000+03:00

Maniqa castle

2008-05-30T09:23:00.000+03:00

Baarin castle remnants

2008-05-23T09:22:00.000+03:00

Road sided by Nerium Oleander trees

Coastal line streets

2008-05-16T15:16:00.000+03:00

Sheikh Suleiman ruins in a cloudy-rainy day

2008-05-10T15:17:00.000+03:00

In one of stormy days of May, I took my parents to a trip (arabic = shmm hawa), and it was unfortunately for them.. rainy, fortunately for me to be in such a climate at ruins. So I took this pictures for you :)