The northern arcade of the inner courtyard (juwwani), Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm Palace

The northern arcade of the inner courtyard (juwwani), Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm Palace

Courtyard of family wing (so called haramlik or jummwani) in Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm Palace

Courtyard of family wing (so called haramlik or jummwani) in Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm Palace

Church of the Armenians in ar-Raqqa

Church of the Armenians in ar-Raqqa

Courtyard with fountain in the family wing (so called haramlik or juwwani), Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm Palace

Courtyard with fountain in the family wing (so called haramlik or juwwani), Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm Palace

The remaining upper part of Shumaymis Castle

The remaining upper part of Shumaymis Castle

‘Ajami decoration in Qasr al-‘Azm, Damascus

‘Ajami decoration in Qasr al-‘Azm, Damascus

‘Ajami decoration in Qasr al-‘Azm, Damascus

‘Ajami decoration in Qasr al-‘Azm, Damascus

Qasr Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm, courtyard and arcade

Qasr Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm, courtyard and arcade

Courtyard with fountain, Qasr As‘ad Basha al-'Azm

Courtyard with fountain, Qasr As‘ad Basha al-‘Azm

Courtyard and Iwan, Qasr As‘ad Basha al-'Azm

Courtyard and Iwan, Qasr As‘ad Basha al-‘Azm

General view of Shumaymis Castle

General view of Shumaymis Castle

View from the outer northwest edge of the ditch, Shumaymis Castle

View from the outer northwest edge of the ditch, Shumaymis Castle

General view of the Shumaymis Castle

General view of the Shumaymis Castle

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

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, upper part of the entrance - a cornice with floral motifs and a Qur'anic text in Kufic script

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, upper part of the entrance – a cornice with floral motifs and a Qur’anic text in Kufic script

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, Building ornaments at the entrance

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, Building ornaments at the entrance

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, prayer niche (mihrab) in the prayer hall

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, prayer niche (mihrab) in the prayer hall

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, prayer hall

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, prayer hall

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, minaret

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, minaret

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, the upper part of the entrance - a cornice with floral motifs and a Qur'anic text in Kufic script

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, the upper part of the entrance – a cornice with floral motifs and a Qur’anic text in Kufic script

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, west facade - entrance blocked by a wall with a door opening surmounted by an arch

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, west facade – entrance blocked by a wall with a door opening surmounted by an arch

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, public fountain (sabil) beside the main entrance

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, public fountain (sabil) beside the main entrance

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

View from Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas

View from Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, view of the rectangular minarett above the main entrance

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, view of the rectangular minarett above the main entrance

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, zig-zag pattern

Jamiʿ ash-Shuʿaybiyya, zig-zag pattern

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope

Ruins of Qalʿat ash-Shugr wa-Bakas on the edge of a mountain slope