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Introduction to the ancient city of Bosra

Weather: 24°C, Wind NW at 14 km/h, 30% Humidity weather.com
Population: 19,683 (2004)
Local time: Thursday 16:14
Subdistrict: Bosra
Area code: 15

Busra Town in Syria

Bosra is an ancient city in Syria, located in the Deraa district of Daraa province in the southwest of the country, 140 kilometers away from the capital Damascus, with an altitude of 850 meters. The city’s residents are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims. The ancient city of Bosra was once a provincial capital of the Roman Empire, still an important city during the Arab Empire, and gradually declined after the Ottoman Empire. The ruins of the ancient city were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.

Historical overview

The ancient city of Bosra is an ancient city ruins located in Syria. It is located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, at the intersection of the ancient trade routes. prestigious capital) to the important temporary habitat of the front-line traveling caravans in Syria.

The history of Bosra can be traced back to the 14th century BC, and the existence of the ancient city of Bosra is confirmed in the expository inventory of the tomb of Tell el-Amarna. At that time, the area around Bras had already started agricultural development. At the end of the Hellenistic period (364-312 BC) in Syria, Blas became the northern capital of the Nabataean kingdom. The Nabataean kingdom was an Arab settled tribe that controlled the commercial activities of frankincense, livestock, dyes, gemstones and other commercial activities of traveling convoys between the Arabian Peninsula and the inner Gulf of the Mediterranean, and its territory included present-day Syria and its surrounding areas.

Busra flourished at this time and entered its heyday. In 106, when Emperor Trajan annexed the Nabataean kingdom and its capital Petra declined due to the loss of Palmyra, Bosra was incorporated into the province of Arabia and became its capital city. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395, Bosra became part of the Byzantine Empire. Although it was not until the 7th century AD that Bosra was occupied by the Arabs again, maritime trade flourished.

Because it is located on the way of the ancient trade route of Mecca, after the Arabs conquered Syria, Bosra gradually became a camp for Muslims to worship in Mecca. In the city of Bosra the Prophet Muhammad accepted the mission of founding Islam. During the Crusades in the 8th century AD, the Ayyubid dynasty established by Saladin transformed the famous Roman theater of Bosra into a defensive fortress to prevent the Crusaders from invading Damascus and occupying the passage to the Howland Plain.

Construction Layout

The scenery of the ancient city of Bosra is very different from the harsh desert environment or the fertile plain, revealing a desolate feeling, perhaps this is the unique atmosphere of the ancient city.

The architecture of the ancient city of Bosra is a powerful testimony to the Hellenistic, Nabaso, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods in history. The rulers of different ethnic groups have left various styles of buildings in Bosra. The gates of the ancient city of Bosra are tall and fortifications are built on the city walls. In the ancient city, there are wide streets, neatly lined with columns on both sides, and preserved magnificent Roman theaters, ancient baths, markets, Roman barracks, racecourses and mosques. In addition, the city also preserves the oldest Nabataean architectural district.

The most famous in the ancient city of Bosra is the Roman Theater, which is a masterpiece of the Roman period and the largest, most spectacular and best preserved ancient Roman amphitheatre, with high architectural and artistic value. It is a stepped amphitheatre with 15,000 seats still intact, and the walls, trenches and broad hall of the theatre are still well preserved.

Architecturally, the ring-shaped high wall of the theater will form a sound field effect, making the entire theater a large stage with surround sound, and the audience can hear the best sound no matter where they sit. Opposite the ring-shaped seats is the stage, with actors’ lounges, dressing rooms, etc. on both sides, and behind the stage is a large hall. What’s unique about this theater is that it’s still in use, and the acoustics are as good as they used to be.

Around the Roman Theater, there are also castles built in the 13th century, as well as Basra Cathedral (513 AD), Fatmet Mosque, Mabra Mosque, Fidel Islamic Institute and other buildings. The design and planning of these buildings not only influenced Christian architecture, but also influenced Islamic architecture to a certain extent.