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Roman cities of the Middle East
Palmyra, Syria

Palmyra at dawn

Wandering among the impressive ruins of the great Roman cities of Palmyra or Jerash it is hard to imagine that this was the south-eastern extremity of the Roman empire. It’s a world away from the windswept isolation of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England, at the opposite end of Rome’s conquered lands. These cities are vast, and the central structures have been preserved and restored to allow us a glimpse of how these trading centres and military outposts might have looked two thousand years before.

Visiting the sites is very easy. In Jordan, the city of Jerash is only an hour from Amman. Jerash is home to Jordan’s most complete Roman ruins, and was one of the major cities in the 1st and 2nd century, mainly as a result of its location on the spice trading route northwards from the Arabian lands. It’s worth at least half a day to visit, and there is a daily chariot race on the site (we didn’t see it, but have heard very good reviews of it).

Jerash

Jerash

Jerash

Jerash

Jerash

Jerash

Amman itself holds a number of Roman treasures; an amphitheatre in the heart of the city, and high on a hill overlooking the centre is the ancient Citadel; a short taxi ride or a brisk walk will take you to the hilltop where you can enjoy the best views of the city. The first time I was in Amman I stood at the Citadel and witnessed the Red Arrows conduct a low-altitude training exercise between the seven hills of the city; very dramatic.

The Citadel, Amman

The Citadel, Amman

I’ve also spent a late afternoon here on a business trip a few years ago, and enjoyed the sunset while listening to the rising crescendo of prayers coming from the many mosques on the surrounding hills. It made for a unique atmosphere that I tried (in vain) to capture on film:

Finally in Jordan, don’t forget to see the Roman ruins in Petra. While the site is renowned for its Nabatean heritage, the Roman occupied the city for several centuries and left their architectural mark here.

Roman ruins at Petra

Roman ruins at Petra

In neighbouring Syria, the city of Palmyra is perhaps the best preserved Roman city of the region, and well worth the long drive to reach. In the heart of the Syrian desert and around three hours from Damascus, the city offers a wealth of well-kept streets and municipal  buildings. It does get very busy, so it’s worth exploring either at dusk when the tour buses have left for the day, or at dawn as we did (but bring a jacket; it can be bitterly cold before sunrise).

Syria has many other Roman sites that are worth exploring. We didn’t make it to Bosra, near to the Jordanian border, but by all accounts it’s an impressive site.

Palmyra, Syria

Palmyra

Palmyra, Syria

Palmyra

Palmyra, Syria

Palmyra

Palmyra, Syria

View of Palmyra from nearby fort

arrow11 Responses

  1. 19 mos, 2 wks ago

    awesome, breathtaking. if i sat here all night, i would not find enough adjectives to describe just how amazing these architectural beauties are. The history the depth of heritage – amazing. I heard that whilst the photos are glorious, it really takes the experience of standing in the center of the ruins to feel just how insignificantly small man is, compared to the Colosseum. thank u for sharing (i hope to go one day.. my parents have been but that was long b4 i started earning my own money! LOL)

  2. 19 mos, 2 wks ago

    It’s hard to believe how widespread the influence of the Roman Empire was without the luxury of communications technology with use now. I’m hoping to see some of the Roman sites in Libya sometime this year myself. I still find it remarkable how well preserved many of the old Roman sites are.

  3. 19 mos, 2 wks ago

    Thanks Ciki and Anil for your comments. I guess the extent of preservation is partly to do with the dry desert environment, but considering the wars that have been waged in these lands it is surprising how much has withstood plundering and robbery. Well worth a visit though. And Libya does sound incredible.

  4. 19 mos, 1 wk ago

    your pictures are superb, from your photograph itself is easy to understand how wide was roman empire….

  5. 19 mos, 1 wk ago

    Didn’t know the roman city ruins existed in Middle East.. thought they might have erased the mark… Great pictures though and as the above comment pointed out it indeed shows the expanse of the Roman Empire!

  6. 19 mos, 1 wk ago

    Thanks for your comments Nishant. The Syrians and Jordanians have done an excellent job in preserving the ruins, and they have become major tourist attractions (and therefore sources of revenue) in time. Well worth a visit if you ever get the chance.

  7. 18 mos, 1 wk ago

    Wow so different from any other Roman heritage I’ve seen from others’ trip. Middle East is frankly can’t picture myself going there. Nothin personal just ferrifying with all the war and stuff. My brother is an Army man so I feel more personal when I hear war news.
    But also I’ve heard there are many valuable places to see like Jordan you wrote.
    Too many great places. Thanks for sharing and make me reconsider middle east. :)

  8. 18 mos, 1 wk ago

    Thanks Juno. How can I convince you that Syria and Jordan are safer places to visit than England, United States, France or Italy? There is very little crime, local people will go out of their way to show you hospitality and you will be able to wander around alone without worry.
    There is bad news about many parts of the world (we hear bad news about Korea at the moment) but it doesn’t mean it’s dangerous to visit.
    It’s a beautiful part of the world, easy to explore and with the warmest people. Am I persuading you? :-)

  9. 18 mos, 1 wk ago

    I would say….. Totally!! :)

    Yes bad news. I almost thought move out the country. Well I was going to do it anyway. :)
    Just hope it doesn’t get any worse.

  10. 17 mos ago

    Beautiful! It is definitely on my itinerary/list. Old ruins give me goose bumps and I always imagine myself transported back in time. Wonderful photos. I look forward to taking my own soon. :)

  11. 17 mos ago

    Thank you Lilliane. Very kind. Hope you make it there too.

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