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Hama
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Hama,
situated between
Homs and
Aleppo on banks of the
Orontes
river, is an important agricultural and industrial center. Except for
Damascus, Hama is considered the most picturesque
city in
Syria and one may wish to take
time to relax in its attractive gardens along river banks.
Hama has
been settled since the early
Iron
Age. In book of
Joshua,
Hama is mentioned at the time when the land was divided up between the
12
tribes.
It is also mentioned in
Kings II
as the source for the settlers the AsSyrians moved into
Samaria,
after depopulating the cities of
Holy land.
The
chief attraction of Hama are the great
norias
(water-wheels). Originating in
Byzantine
times, the oldest surviving wheels date from the 13th century. The norias,
which all have given names, were used to raise water from the river into
aqueducts. The purpose of the wheels nowadays is purely decorative and of
historical interest.

Hama's
Museum,
housed in
Beit Al-Azem
(Azem Mansion) is a splendid example of 18th century
Ottoman
architecture. There are lovely
courtyards
with central fountains, mosaics, richly decorated wood ceilings and paneled
walls, marble floors and wax models of various aspects of Syrian life in
bygone days illustrating the sumptuousness of a
Pasha's
life.
There
are numerous
mosques
and
Greek Orthodox
churches
worth a visit, as well as the
aqueducts
and, of course, Hama
Citadel
which was once a site of an 11th century BC royal palace and later a Muslim
fortress.
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