Sweida

Situated some 90 kilometres south-east of Damascus, it is well-known for its plentiful vineyards. It stands 1100 metres above sea-level, and was known by the name of Suwada (little black town) in the Nabatean period, because it was built with black volcanic stone. The Romans, in the 3rd century, considered it one of the most important towns in the Province of Arabia and called it Dionysus.

 Ruins of ancient civilizations are numerous but widely scattered; some of the most notable of these, along with a collection of exquisite mosaics discovered in 1962, are now housed in the Sweida Museum. One part of this mosaic collection represents Artemis, goddess of chastity and the hunt, surrounded by her nymphs when she is surprised by a hunter while bathing. This fine roman work dates back to the sixth century. Another scene portrays the birth of Venus and the wedding of Thetis. Statues carved in hard basalt show signs of a mixture of Nabatean, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab influences.

 There are also the ruins of a 3rd century Roman temple surrounded by a colonnade of Corinthian columns.

 The location of Qanawat lends beauty to its remains; the village lies stretched along the crest of a hill and extends down the side of a valley full of trees, orchards, meadows and fields.

 Of greatest interest to the visitor is a cluster of columns which were part of a 2nd century temple dedicated to the sun god Helios. Another temple of the same period dedicated to Zeus was built with decorated basalt. Of this temple there are only six columns left. On the right side of the valley there are the remains of an Odeon.