My Website

HAMA

At an altitude of 300 m and a distance of 300 km north of Damascus, Hama tells a story of long lasting
love between the town and the river Orontes, typified by the huge Norais (river wheels) on its banks.
It seems that since the fourth millennium BC. Amorites used to dwell on these banks and to drink from
the river water.
Arameans established there one of their most ancient and most powerful petty Kingdoms. Hittites,
Assyrians, Bablyonians, Persians, Grees, Romans, and Byzantines followed them. The Arabs came
since the dawn of Islam and Islamic civilization flourished there under various rulers. It was briefly
occupied by the French during the mandate.
The most important sites in Hama and its province are:

Hama Museum:

It is located in the famous Azem Palace was built by Assaad Pasha Alazem on a very beautiful site
looking over the river Orontes at a place where the Norais are most impressive, and where remains of
ancient times abound. It is a typical example of Arab architectural style and Islamic decorative arts. In
the Golden Room, in which the original arrangement since the time of its builder has been preserved,
symmetry and variety are harmoniously united in the doors and windows, the marble and colored
stone floor, the magnificent dome, the gold colored arabesques on wood, the beautiful and huge oil
lamps which are still lighting until today. All that is reminiscence of ancient way of living.
As a museum, the palace contains many archeological remains, there are a group of very old ceramic
and glass wares, a number of statue sculptures in hard basalt rock, including one representing “saint
Simeon the stylite’, a mosaic panel, discovered at Maryamen, which represents an orchestra playing
various musical instruments, including an organ.
The museum contains also man manuscripts and old official documents. There are rooms allocated to
folklore and popular traditions. Many other well preserved ancient buildings may be found at hama
and in its province, among them Keylani’s palace in Hama, Ibn Warden’s castle, at 55 km south of
Hama, Asrieh castle, at 11km south of Hama, and the Khans (inn) of Rustom Pasha and Assaaad Pasha
Al-Azem in the town it self.
The Great Mosque:
It is located in the center of the city and has been built in its present forming XIVth century AD. But it
is much older than that since it was a temple during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, a cathedral
church during the Byzantine period, and a mosque during the early Islamic period. It was then
destroyed and rebuilt as a great mosque. Thus it unites architectural features of all the above-named
civilizations.
Other important religious monuments in Hama are Nuri Mosque, built by Nureddin Zenki around
1129AD. Al-Hayyat Mosque and Convent of Cross (Deir al salib).

Aphamia (Apamee)
The remains of the ancient town lie on a hill overlooking the Orontes River and the Ghab plain at 55k
north west of Hama. It was established by the Hellenistic king Seleucos the first Nicator around 300BC.
And named after his wife Apamia. Historically, it has been visited by the famous Cleopatra and by the
Roman emperors Septimus Severus and Caracalla.
The main features of its remains are the ruins of its ramparts, its main street lined with helicoidally
grooved columns, many mosaic panels, including one representing “Socrates” and one representing
the “ Amazon”, and its great Roman arena.

Aphamia Museum:
It is located in the building previously known as Aphamia Khan (inn) in the Ghab plain. It contains
mainly mosaic panels discovered at Aphamia. One of these panels represents Socrates surrounded by
his disciples, which gives evidence to the importance of Aphamia philosophical school during the
Hellenistic and Roman periods, this town having been one of the last strongholds of paganism at the
advent of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Almadiq Castle:
Located at the edge of the hill on which Aphamia is built, it overlooks from its high towers Ghab plain.
The Crusaders constructed it as a defense of the Ghab valley and a great battle between Nureddin
Zenki and the crusaders took place under its walls in 1149AD. (Battle of Femie, in the middle Ages
name of Aphamia).
After its conquest, a mosque and Khan (inn) were built in it during the ottoman period, around the XVI
century AD> it is well preserved, but a great part of it is now occupied by villagers as dwellings.

Sheizar Castle:
It overlooks the Orantos River when it passes through a narrow; it is constructed on a rocky peg and
can only be reached through a draw- bridge. Its main feature is a square tower with advanced
fortifications. Some beautiful Arabic calligraphy from the Mamluk period may be seen in it.

Ma’aret Anno’oman Town:
It lies about 16km north of Hama and contains the tomb of the famous Arab poet and philosopher Abil
Ala'a al-Ma’ari. There is an Arabic style castle on the hills over looking it. It contains also many
ancient mosques and khans (inn), foremost among them being Assaad Pasha’s khan and Murad
Pasha’s khan.

Ma’aret Anno’oman Museum:
It is located in the building of Murad pasha’s khan and contains many mosaic panels and other
archeological remains found in the neighborhood as well as photographs of nearby archeological
sites.