Fresco from Dura Europos, 3rd c. National Museum, Damascus

Fresco from Dura Europos, 3rd c. National Museum, Damascus

A herd of sheep grazing in front of Shayzar Castle

A herd of sheep grazing in front of Shayzar Castle

View of the Orontes valley at low water

View of the Orontes valley at low water

General view of the Orontes valley in the 1960s

General view of the Orontes valley in the 1960s

View of the Orontes River with rapids

View of the Orontes River with rapids

View of the Orontes River with forested river banks

View of the Orontes River with forested river banks

View of Orontes valley

View of Orontes valley

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Mari (Tall Hariri), a side of the architectural remains

Afamiya, remains of the colonnaded street (Cardo Maximus)

Afamiya, remains of the colonnaded street (Cardo Maximus)

Al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, entrance - Zengid inscription in Naskhi script

Al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, entrance – Zengid inscription in Naskhi script

Al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, entrance - Zengid inscription in Naskhi script

Al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, entrance – Zengid inscription in Naskhi script

Tartus, museum in the former cathedral, view at western facade

Tartus, museum in the former cathedral, view at western facade

Remains of arches, Qasr al-Hayr ash-Sharqi

Remains of arches, Qasr al-Hayr ash-Sharqi

Arch bridge over the Orontes River, which leads to the Shayzar Castle

Arch bridge over the Orontes River, which leads to the Shayzar Castle

A distant view of the coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

A distant view of the coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Kafr Halab village, clay dome houses

Kafr Halab village, clay dome houses

Aerial photograph of Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains) with Barada valley

Aerial photograph of Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains) with Barada valley

Upper Barada valley in Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains)

Upper Barada valley in Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains)

Agriculture at the foot of Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains)

Agriculture at the foot of Jibal Lubnan ash-Sharqiyya (Anti-Lebanon Mountains)

Terrasses cultivation in the Coastal Mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Terrasses cultivation in the Coastal Mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

A village on the foothills of the coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

A village on the foothills of the coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Diversity of vegetation and protruding rocks in the Syrian coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Diversity of vegetation and protruding rocks in the Syrian coastal mountains (al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya)

Main entrance of Qasr al-Hayr ash-Sharqi

Main entrance of Qasr al-Hayr ash-Sharqi

Salkhad, Archaeological remains in a vineyard

Salkhad, Archaeological remains in a vineyard

General view of al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya (the coastal mountains) covered by forests

General view of al-Jibal as-Sahiliyya (the coastal mountains) covered by forests

Excavation of mosaic floor, ʿAyn al-ʿArus

Excavation of mosaic floor, ʿAyn al-ʿArus

al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, northern facade - marble plaque dated 1315 AH and sealed by the Sultan ʿAbd al-Hamid Khan (Tughra)

al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, northern facade – marble plaque dated 1315 AH and sealed by the Sultan ʿAbd al-Hamid Khan (Tughra)

Al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, the main entrance

Al-Madrasa al-Hallawiyya, the main entrance

Inside of Krak des Chevaliers

Inside of Krak des Chevaliers

Raʾs al-ʿAyn, Piles of wheat before its package in bags

Raʾs al-ʿAyn, Piles of wheat before its package in bags