Swaida
Situated
some 90 kilometres south-east of Damascus, it is well-known for its
plentiful vineyards. It stands 1100 meters above sea-level, and was
known by the name of Suwada (little black town) in the Nabatean period,
because it was built with black volcanic stone. The Romans, in the 3rd
century, considered it one of the most important towns in the Province
of Arabia and called it Dionysus.
Ruins
of ancient civilizations are numerous but widely scattered; some of the
most notable of these, along with a collection of exquisite mosaics
discovered in 1962, are now housed in the Sweida Museum. One part of
this mosaic collection represents Artemis, goddess of chastity and the
hunt, surrounded by her nymphs when she is surprised by a hunter while
bathing. This fine roman work dates back to the sixth century. Another
scene portrays the birth of Venus and the wedding of Thetis. Statues
carved in hard basalt show signs of a mixture of Nabatean, Greek,
Roman, Byzantine, and Arab influences.
There are also the ruins of a 3rd century Roman temple surrounded by a colonnade of Corinthian columns.
|
.jpg)
