Bosra

Part of Seleucid domains after Alexander's conquests and was seized by the Romans in 163 BC. And in 106 AD, they extended direct rule and established "Provencia Arabia".

Bosra was made the hub of an important network of trade routes. In the Christian era Bosra was a Monophysite center and thus often on bad terms with Constantinople. The prophet Mohamad probably visited the city during a trading journey before his religious mission began. After the 7th century, Bosra was drawn into the long struggle between Crusaders and Arabs. Its impressive theatre has a capacity for 6000 spectators plus room for further 2-3000 standing. In the Ayyubid era the theatre was transformed into a citadel with many towers. One can find the remains of the Roman south baths. Khan al-dib is a long rectangular Roman marketplace. We will also see the monumental arch, built in the early 3rd century AD. The next group of remains to be visited are those of some important religious buildings, such as; the basilica, which was originally constructed as a civic building in the pagan period but was converted for use as a Christian church. The Mabrak Mosque is believed to receive the first copy of the Koran brought to Syria carried on a camel. Nearby are two Roman remains, a house with two courtyards and remnants of another set of baths. The cathedral of Bosra is a building of considerable importance in the annals of early Christian architecture. Behind the cathedral, and originally linked to it, are the fragmentary remains of the bishop's palace of the Byzantine period. At the cathedral extremity lies the Nabatean arch. Immediately south to the Nabatean gateway lie the remains of a substantial Roman residence. Finally, there is the recently partially restored Hammam Manjak, a Mameluke baths complex in Damascene style inaugurated in 1372 and the last major Islamic addition to the city before its steady decline set in

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