Raqqa, the archway of Baghdad Gate

Raqqa, the archway of Baghdad Gate

Qasr (palace) al-Hayr al-Gharbi, view of the ruins

Qasr (palace) al-Hayr al-Gharbi, view of the ruins

View into a room in Palace G, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

View into a room in Palace G, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

Raqqa, the inner façade of Baghdad Gate (Bab Baghdad)

Raqqa, the inner façade of Baghdad Gate (Bab Baghdad)

Raqqa, Baghdad gate

Raqqa, Baghdad gate

Raqqa - Madinat ar-Rafiqa wall - one of the wall tower

Raqqa – Madinat ar-Rafiqa wall – one of the wall tower

Raqqa, Palace D, stucco decorations

Raqqa, Palace D, stucco decorations

Raqqa, al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq, Remains of the southern arcade from the inside

Raqqa, al-Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq, Remains of the southern arcade from the inside

Raqqa - remains of the southern arcade of the Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq

Raqqa – remains of the southern arcade of the Jamiʿ al-ʿAtiq

A view of Royal Palace G, Tall Mardikh (Ebla)

A view of Royal Palace G, Tall Mardikh (Ebla)

The inner façade of Baghdad Gate, Raqqa

The inner façade of Baghdad Gate, Raqqa

Khan Qurdbak, southern part of the khan - iwan of the Mamluk palace

Khan Qurdbak, southern part of the khan – iwan of the Mamluk palace

Hama, The historic alley leading to al-ʿAzm Palace

Hama, The historic alley leading to al-ʿAzm Palace

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Khan Qurdbak, southern part of the Khan - iwan of the Mamluk Palace

Khan Qurdbak, southern part of the Khan – iwan of the Mamluk Palace

Khan Qurdbak, iwan of the Mamluk palace

Khan Qurdbak, iwan of the Mamluk palace

Khan Qurdbak, iwan of the Mamluk palace

Khan Qurdbak, iwan of the Mamluk palace

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Tall Brak (Nagar), ruins of Naram-Sin Palace, 3rd millennuim BC. [Original photo name: naram sin palace2]

Khan Qurtbak, southern part of Khan - the inner courtyard and the iwan of the Mamluk palace

Khan Qurtbak, southern part of Khan – the inner courtyard and the iwan of the Mamluk palace

Stone coffins in the southern Palace, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

Stone coffins in the southern Palace, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

A wall painting from Zimri-Lim’s palace in Mari (Tall al-Hariri), which is known as "The Ordinator of the Sacrifice" (ca. 1780 BC) and hangs in the Louvre.

A wall painting from Zimri-Lim’s palace in Mari (Tall al-Hariri), which is known as “The Ordinator of the Sacrifice” (ca. 1780 BC) and hangs in the Louvre.

A staircase was leading up to upper floor at Royal Palace G, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

A staircase was leading up to upper floor at Royal Palace G, Ebla (Tall Mardikh)

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

Qasr Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm, courtyard and arcade

Qasr Asʿad Basha al-ʿAzm, courtyard and arcade

Bedouin girl with saddle bag, that was weaved by her mother

Bedouin girl with saddle bag, that was weaved by her mother

Qasr al-ʿAzm, view of the ground floor courtyard

Qasr al-ʿAzm, view of the ground floor courtyard