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Busra |
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City Guide:
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Situated on the plain of Horan,1 40Km. South of Damascus. It is thought to be a very ancient town, being mentioned in tablets by <<Thumose the Third>> and "Akhnatoun" in the 14th century B.C.  It has been one
of the first Nabatean cities in the second century B.C. named <<Bohara>>
whereas in the Hellenistic period it bore the name <<Bostra>>. Then the Romans
arrived and the King Trajan made it a capital of the state of the Djezire under the name
of <<<Nova Trajana Bostra>>. At that time the city underwent a great
housing development being and important center for caravans as well as the seat of the
imperial ruler.
Even after the Roman Domination, Bosra maintained its role during
the early Christianity as well as at the rise of Islam. In this place lived a Nestorian
Monk name << Buheira>>. One day he met a young man named "Mohammed ben
Abdullah", who was passing with his caravan and predicted his prophecy, and his call
for Islam. The most spectacular site of Bosra, most certainly, would be its famous Roman
theater that dates back to the 2nd century, and is considered to be one of the
most intact and the most beautiful Romans theaters known to us. It seats fifteen thousands spectators. Its stage in 45m long and attains 8m. in depth. An annual festival is held in which local entertainment as well as pan Arab and international ones are shown. The town has many other vestiges such as Nabatean ruins, Roman ones, Byzantine traces and finally some Islamic vestiges such as the Mabrok and the Arous Mosques, the Citadel and the pool. Prime attractions of this ancient (4000 BC) city are its 2nd-century Roman and Arab ruins. These include a well-preserved classical theater, a medieval Arab citadel, the 3rd-century Bab (gate) al-Qandil, Roman baths, the Umayyad Mosque of Omar, the Mosque of Fatima and the House of Monk Bohaira monastery. Busra is well worth a long day's visit from Damascus. If time permits, take the trip 15 mi/24 km east to Salkhad to see the 12th century fortress (offering an outstanding view of the region from atop a volcanic mountain) and then on to Sweida or the ruins at Kanawat (see separate paragraphs for the last two). 70 mi/113 km south of Damascus.
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