Qal‘at Shayzar ( Citadel), An Arabic inscription on top of the citadel entrance.

Qal‘at Shayzar ( Citadel), An Arabic inscription on top of the citadel entrance.

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Qalʿat al-Mudiq seen from the ruins of Afamiya

Qalʿat al-Mudiq seen from the ruins of Afamiya

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Qal‘at Shayzar (citadel), Archery road.

Qal‘at Shayzar (citadel), Archery road.

Ruins of Qalʿat Maʿarrat an-Nuʿman

Ruins of Qalʿat Maʿarrat an-Nuʿman

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Tall Aswad – sherds

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Tall Aswad – sherds

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Waqf of Ibshir Mustafa Pasha, Coffeehouse, interior

Waqf of Ibshir Mustafa Pasha, Coffeehouse, interior

Waqf of Ibshir Mustafa Pasha, Coffeehouse, interior

Waqf of Ibshir Mustafa Pasha, Coffeehouse, interior

Raqqa - Jar discovered at the site "East Raqqa" - the northern complex

Raqqa – Jar discovered at the site “East Raqqa” – the northern complex

Raqqa - Glass discovered at the site "East Raqqa" - the northern complex

Raqqa – Glass discovered at the site “East Raqqa” – the northern complex

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Qalʿat al-Marqab, Fresco in ceiling of chapel sacristy, 12th C.

Qalʿat al-Marqab, Fresco in ceiling of chapel sacristy, 12th C.

Qalʿat al-Marqab, Fresco on the ceiling of chapel sacristy, 12th C.

Qalʿat al-Marqab, Fresco on the ceiling of chapel sacristy, 12th C.

A view of Qalʿat Shayzar along the Orontes river

A view of Qalʿat Shayzar along the Orontes river

Parts of Qalʿat Shayzar with one of the towers

Parts of Qalʿat Shayzar with one of the towers

View towards Qalʿat al-Qadmus (al-Qadmus Citadel)

View towards Qalʿat al-Qadmus (al-Qadmus Citadel)

Palmyra, view from the south, valley of tombs in foreground, Qalʿat Ibn Maʿn in background

Palmyra, view from the south, valley of tombs in foreground, Qalʿat Ibn Maʿn in background

Small vaulted passageway, Qalʿat Harim

Small vaulted passageway, Qalʿat Harim

A view from Qalʿat Shayzar towards the Orontes plains

A view from Qalʿat Shayzar towards the Orontes plains

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Tall Aswad, excavation in 1985

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Tall Aswad, excavation in 1985

Raqqa - "East of Raqqa" site - Tall Aswad – sherds

Raqqa – “East of Raqqa” site – Tall Aswad – sherds

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Waqf of Ibshir Mustafa Pasha, Coffeehouse, interior

Waqf of Ibshir Mustafa Pasha, Coffeehouse, interior

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum

Archaeological finds from Raqqa, exhibited in the Damascus National Museum