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Syria (Arabic: سوريا‎, romanized: Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية العربية السورية‎, romanized: al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including Syrian Arabs, Kurds, Turkemens, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians, Mandeans and Greeks. Religious groups include Sunnis, Christians, Alawites, Druze, Isma'ilis, Mandeans, Shiites, Salafis, Yazidis, and Jews. Arabs are the largest ethnic group, and Sunnis the largest religious group. Beit Al Wali Hotel Gate of Thomas, Damascus From Damascus to the Krak des Chevaliers Krak des Chevaliers Krak des Chevaliers Restaurant Amrit Tartus Tartus Survival Kit Ugarit Castle of Saladin Hama Hama Surviva...

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John of Damascus (Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Δαμασκηνός, romanized: Ioánnēs ho Damaskēnós, IPA: [ioˈanis o ðamasciˈnos]; Latin: Ioannes Damascenus; Arabic: يوحنا الدمشقي‎, romanized: Yūḥannā ad-Dimashqī), also known as John Damascene and as Χρυσορρόας / Chrysorrhoas (literally "streaming with gold"—i.e., "the golden speaker"), was a Christian monk and priest. Born and raised in Damascus c. 675 or 676, he died at his monastery, Mar Saba, near Jerusalem on 4 December 749. In the early 8th century AD, iconoclasm, a movement opposed to the veneration of icons, gained acceptance in the Byzantine court. In 726, despite the protests of Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, Emperor Leo III (who had forced the emperor to abdicate and himself assumed the throne in 717 immediately before the great siege) issued his first edict against the veneration of images and their exhibition in public places. All agree that John of Damascus undertook a spirited defence of holy images in three ...

The Church of Saint John of Damascus (كنيسة القديس يوحنا الدمشقي) is located in the old city of Damascus (دمشق), approximately one hundred meters northeast of the more prominent al-Mariyamiyeh Church (كنيسة المريمية), the seat of the Greek Orthodox patriarchate. It is roughly two hundred meters north of Straight Street (الشارع المستقيم‎). Ottoman officials granted this property to the Greek Orthodox Church in 1856, and the building was constructed shortly thereafter. While the church itself is relatively modern, it incorporates many traditional architectural styles. The design is a simple rectangular plan. The wood roof is supported by two rows of arches on square columns of basalt bricks, and the walls a combination of basalt and limestone. The wood carved iconostasis was made by local Damascene Christian artisans, and the floors are a mixture of marble and granite. There are windows on the upper levels. This church still serves the local community, but rarely receives visitors. If ...

The Roman Theatre at Bosra (Arabic: المسرح الروماني ببصرى‎) is a large Roman theatre in Bosra, in the district of Dar'a in south-western Syria. It was built in either the second quarter or the second half of the second century AD, and is constructed of black basalt. It is likely that the theatre was built during the reign of Trajan. The theatre was originally built outside the walls of the town, but was later completely enclosed by an Ayyūbid fortress. The city of Bosra had its fortifications expanded between 481 and 1251. When later integrated into the fortifications, its role was to serve as a citadel and to guard a road leading to Damascus. The theatre is 102 metres across and has seating for about 15,000 people; it is thus among the largest of the Ancient Roman civilisation. It served a city that once had 80,000 inhabitants. It is also one of the best preserved both in Syria and across the Roman empire. It was substantially restored between 1947 and 1970, before which it ...