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Lattakia

It is called in Syria the bride of the sea and contains the most important Syrian seaport.
On the Mediterranean Sea, at the north of the Syrian coast, it was constructed by seleucos I
Nicator, the first Seleucide king, and named after his mother Loadicea. Before that, there was at
the same location a Phoenician town called “ Ramitha” .
Nearby, at Ras Shamra (the ancient Ugarit) has been discovered the oldest alphabet in the
world. Thus, even though the city is a Hellenistic creation, the history of the site goes long
before that era, having witnessed the Cananeans, Phoenician and other Arab related peoples,
and merges with prehistory.

Lattakia Museum:
It occupies the palace, which was once occupied by the French high commissioner during the
mandate period. In contains most of the archeological discoveries found in the province of
Lattakia, including huge stone sculptures, which are displayed in its gardens.

Ras Shamra (Ugarit Site):
It lies at a distance of 10km north of Lattakia. There wee discovered remains of an old city,
which flourished from the second millennium BC.until the XIIIth century BC. when it was
completely destroyed. Clay tablets, in several languages of the most ancient civilizations, were
found there. They deal with diplomatic, economic, legal, religious and other matters and are
very important concerning the history of that era and especially concerning old Semitic
mythology. But the most important aspect about these tablets is that they are written in a script
derived from the Mesopotamian cuneiform but completely phonetic in its structure, thus it is the
first known alphabet. Remains of the royal palace, Baal temple and Dagon temple are the most
important ones. Potteries and metal objects are also discovered.

Salaheddin’s (saladin’s) Castle:
It is fortified at 35 km east of Lattakia, at an altitude of 410m. above the mean sea level. It is
located on a high rocky pig surrounded by a deep valley, it was first built by the Byzantines,
then by the Arabs and the Crusaders ( who refortified it ).
Deep ditches 156m further defend it. long and 15-18m wide. It includes three towers, with walls
5m. thick, a keep 24m. high and draw- bridge.
It contains inside various rooms, baths, mosques, etc. in a ruined condition.