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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.
Latakia 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
Latakia, 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 latakia,
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.
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