UMAYYAD CITY OF ANJAR

Surrounded by a fortified enclosure with four gates, the ruins form a quadrilateral measuring 370 m by 310 m, divided into four equal parts like a Roman camp. The wall has 36 semi-circular towers and 2 circular towers at the corners of the city. This enclosure is 7 m high and 2 m thick. It is mainly built from limestone. Dozens of graffiti from the Umayyad period have been found there. Since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, tourists have deserted Anjar: if the security situation allows it, the visit to the site can be magical: alone in the middle of the ruins, without any other visitor to break the charm.

Two main avenues (Cardo Maximus and Decumanus Maximus) - intersecting in the centre of the caravanserai - delimit the districts. These roads are bordered by hundreds of shops that highlight the commercial role of the city. At the crossroads of the axes stood a tetrapyle. This set of four pedestals topped by four columns formed a sort of triumphal arch. Along the path leading to the tetrapyle, a series of arcades opened onto the shops. A large part of the columns and capitals used were taken from neighbouring Roman sites, which explains the heterogeneous aspect of the architecture.

A small palace, probably housing the prince's harem, adorned the northeast corner of the site while a market, followed by a mosque, occupied the southeast corner.

At the rear stood the princely residence - or great palace - preceded by a beautiful inner courtyard. Part of the facade, made of alternating brick stones, has been reconstructed. Adjacent to the large palace is a small 200 m² mosque. It consists of an open courtyard with a well for ablutions and a prayer room with two bays. The main entrance to this mosque was along the east-west axis of the city. A second entrance was at the level of the souks.

The southwestern district seems to have grouped the dwellings together. Near the current entrance door, a hammam, built according to Roman traditions, had a warm shower room and a steam bath.

The caravanserai also had an advanced system for draining waste water out of the walls. You can still see the sewer manholes installed in the centre of the main tracks.