“ The Arch of Triumph”….an archeological and historical landmark in Lattakia

Ruins are obviously more than just the reminders of an illustrious past, they are also stencils for the future . Ruins speak to persistence and a quality that becomes imperative if the future is to see a trace of the present.

 “The Arch of Triumph” is one of the most important landmarks  of the city of Lattakia, and a witness to its history , the grandeur of architecture, and the mastery of Syrian builders that made it stand for more than two thousand years.

“The arch was called by many names, including the “square arch” ,  “the hanging church” or “the Tetrapylon. It was built in Al-Salibeh neighborhood to the western side of Al-Tabiyat avenue and to the northeast  of the famous columns of Bacchus”  ,  head of Lattakia  Department of Antiquities  Ibrahim KhairBeik said in a statement to the Syriatimes e-newspaper.

The arch was built of sandstone square-shaped blocks 12 meters long and 16 meters high, topped by a hemispherical dome and has four door ways. It was decorated, internally by sculptures and embossed representing the badges of victory: swords, gears, helmets and spears which are warriors hardware during the Roman period, according to KhairBeik.

He pointed out that in the Middle Ages, the arch  was turned into a church, and it was also used in a period of time as a mosque.

KheirBeik explained that  “ recently, everything that distorts this landmark has been demolished to show it in a beautiful and appropriate form, which gives value to the arch and the city of Lattakia.  Restoration works were carried out by  the Lattakia Antiquities Department, and  the arch  was surrounded by a garden to be  one of the most important buildings registered in the city’s list of archaeological buildings’ ‘.

He indicated that the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums worked on a very accurate three-dimensional documentation of the arch with the Faroese and photometric software devices, and using this documentation to promote it through electronic platforms and social media.

Historical sources indicate that the reason for the construction  the arch dates back to a dispute between the Roman emperors, after which the people of Lattakia were in favor of  Emperor Septimius Severus, who achieved his victory thanks to their support.

Interviewed by :Rawaa Ghanam