Amphitheatre Bosra, Syria

As the town was situated at the crossing of many important trading routes, it quickly became prosperous. It even started making its own silver coins. The region was actively developing in the 3rd century, but the Queen of Palmira and her troops invaded the region in 269. The Syrian land couldn’t resist the invaders, and the queen conquered Bosra. After a period of wars and unrest, Bosra started developing again only in the 6th century. This is the time when numerous palaces and churches appeared in the town. Many of these landmarks have survived until our days. Mongols destroyed the town’s fortifications in the 13th century, and Bosra lost its status as an important center of trade.

In modern time, Bosra gained recognition as a tourist destination. Tourists and guests of the town are usually impressed to see so many fabulous landmarks in one town. Travelers interested in religious landmarks might find it interesting to visit the nearby village of Ezra where they will find the Church of Saint George. This saint is popular with both Orthodox Christians and Muslims. The church was built in 515 on the site of a pagan shrine. There is a grave of the saint in the territory of the church. Saint George was very popular in the area because Bosra frequently suffered from enemies’ attacks, and local soldiers had to protect their homeland. Saint George is the patron saint of all soldiers. The tomb of the saint is located behind the altar.
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