Afqa Spring … The Mystery of Life in Syrian Badia

 (ST) – The historical sulfur Afqa Spring is one of the main reasons  that helped the people of Palmyra in the Syrian desert and the secret of its existence. The archaeological researcher and expert, Khaled As’ad, confirmed that the spring dates back to more than six thousand years.

 After flowing the mineral water all the time, the water of this spring has dried up since fifteen years. Afqa in Aramaic means ‘water outlet’ or ‘spring’.

The temperature of the water was fixed about forty-three degrees Celsius in summer and winter. Several attempts have been made to invest this spring and return water to the course of the surrounding wells.

Thanks to this spring, the oasis of Palmyra was found. Water comes out the middle of al -Mentar Mount. The spring extends in the mount to a distance of 350 meters. Its entrance is a small temple for the Lord of the spring as it was mentioned in old writings that were found in it. Its water is metal sulfide and its temperature is constant in all seasons of the year, and pours 60 liters per second.

Water was used to irrigate the oasis of Palmyra. It also had recipes in healing a number of diseases including: anemia, inflammation of the kidneys, the sands of the urinary system, liver diseases, skin diseases, chest diseases, bronchitis and pneumonia.

The water contains chlorine, magnesium, sulfur, radio radiation equivalent of (11%), it helps digestive system, activates  glands, circulation, and anti-acidity.

Remains of the stairs, the mihrab, the altar, and a dining room that make up the old temple of the gods of the spring Afqa were found at the exit of the cave. Several altars of carved stones also were found at the entrance to the cave.

Writings on these altars indicate that the water was distributed to citizens within a term of 21 days by order of the god “Yerhaboul”. A responsible person oversees this divine command.  Some of these  names are: Bulena Ben Zepeda in 162 AD, Yerhaboul and his son Doweid in 239 AD, Shams Bin Mullah in 256 AD, and some of these altars are now displayed in the halls of the Museum of Palmyra, historical sources mentioned.

Sh. Kh.