Syria

by Ball, Warwick

• ISBN13: 9781566566650
• ISBN10: 1566566657
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-30
• Publisher: Interlink Pub Group Inc

Summary

Syria is the Middle East’s best kept secret. With a wealth of historical splendors matched by few other countries in this region, Syria has remained almost undiscovered. As a result little has been spoiled, much is unknown, and there is much to discover. It is a land of immense antiquity, boasting cities and archaeological remains that are among the oldest in the world. The world’s great invaders from earliest history have fought to establish a bridgehead there as a key to further conquests: Hittites, Hurrians and Hebrews, Aramaeans, Assyrians and Arabs, Egyptians, Canaanites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Turks, Mongols, and French. All have left behind some of the most spectacular monuments that can be seen anywhere. Today, entire deserted cities, immense castles, and a bewildering array of palaces, mosques, temples, theaters, and other ruins are strewn across the country providing the richest and most diverse heritage in the region. More than any other country in the East, Syria is truly the gateway to Asia. This book reconsiders the history of Syria and surveys the major archaeological and historical sites, making a strong case for reassessing the importance of Syria in our perception of the growth of civilization out of the Middle East. With its many site plans and maps, readable text and 96 color photos, this book makes available for the first time the immensely wealthy history, archaeology, and architecture of Syria to the general reader and the interested traveler.

Author Biography

Warwick Ball is a Near Eastern archaeologist who has spent over twenty-five years carrying out excavations, architectural studies, and monumental restoration throughout the Middle East. He has led many tours to Syria and has written numerous books and articles on Western Asia.

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION	7	(8)
2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND	15	(33)
3 ARCHITECTURAL BACKGROUND	48	(19)
4 DAMASCUS AND ENVIRONS	67	(18)
5 THE HAURAN AND SOUTHERN SYRIA	85	(24)
6 THE ORONTES VALLEY AND CENTRAL SYRIA	109	(20)
7 THE COAST	129	(19)
8 ALEPPO AND ENVIRONS	148	(19)
9 THE DEAD CITIES OF THE NORTH	167	(23)
10 THE EUPHRATES AND THE JAZIRA	190	(23)
11 PALMYRA AND THE DESERT	213	(19)
APPENDIX PRACTICAL TIPS	232	(10)
TIME CHART	242	(3)
GLOSSARY	245	(2)
INDEX	247