“Tal Al-Masih” Cemeteries in Sweida date back to the Roman and Byzantine eras

The combination of architecture , sculpture and  landscape makes cemeteries different in the history.  The design of monuments , the choice of stones , the architecture of building and landscape design shed light on past social customs and events and combine together to make a cemetery an irreplaceable historical resource and the biography of its community.  

 

 The archaeological cemeteries  discovered in different areas of  Sweida  are of great importance as they highlight  the burial customs and funerary rituals in ancient times and reveal  buried secrets dating back hundreds years ago. 

 

Head of the Excavation and Archaeological Studies Department at Sweida  Antiquities Directorate , Khaldoun Al-Shama’a  indicated to  the Syrian News Agency (SANA) that the burial customs and funeral rites during ancient times in Sweida  are clearly  symbolized through  the architectural elements and archaeological finds.  

 

 He  clarified  that the cemeteries  discovered during the survey and archaeological excavations at the archaeological site of  “Tal Al-Masih” ( the hill of Jesus)   near the city of Shahba,  embody  an architectural evidence and archaeological monuments  which reflects the ancient civilization of the region. 

 

Al-Shama’a  added: “ Due to the spread of tower-shaped cemeteries  in the site, it is likely that the building constituted  a collective cemetery….. 6 tombs were found  in the  site which were vandalized in ancient times.”

 

He referred that  after a preliminary study of the architectural structures in “ Tal Al-Masih” , it is likely that the site dates back to the Roman and Byzantine periods  when  the agricultural activity reached  the top . 

 

The “Tal Al -Masih” area is distinguished by its geographical location,  its charming mountainous nature, fresh air and its view overlooking  the historical city of Shahba.  

 

This area calls our attention , as mentioned by historical sources and references, to the fact that Jesus visited the area  roamed the hill and stayed there for more than one night. 

 

Rawaa Ghanam