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Halabiyya Ruins

Posted on December 28th, 2007 in Middle East, Syria by robjkentjr

On our last day in Deir ez-Zur, we made a daytrip to the ruins of Halabiyya.  Situated in the middle of the northern desert (35°41′22.4″N, 39°49′8.9″E), this Byzantine town was used as a forward-defense against Persian invaders.

 


This is the northern wall with the Rahbi Citadel sitting on top of the mountain.  Halfway up is the main hall, which is impressively preserved.

 

The ruins pour down right into the river so it is only reasonable that the government build a road right through them.

 


Taken from atop the Citadel, you can see the southern wall and Euphrates River.

 


Here is Rasa examining a doorway that leads to the watchtower stairs.

 


This is the inside of the main hall.  It was striking to see three floors intact in such a massive structure.  The intended purpose of the arches is to support logs, which then make up the foundation for the floor.

 


One day my climbing is going to crumble a 2000-year old building.

 


Luck, not skill.  I just happen to catch this shot on the drive back because I stopped to use the bathroom.

Man making a copper kettle by hand. Bab Mousalla, Damascus, Syria
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Lunch with the Bedouin

Posted on December 27th, 2007 in Middle East, Syria by robjkentjr

The next part of our Deir ez-Zur trip was a day with the Bedouin.  Although we did not sleep in the desert, they still invited us to eat with them on the floor.

 


This is the youngest daughter, Amira.  She has ten siblings from two mothers.  I would compare this family to a rural farming family in Honduras except that here they are sheepherders.

 


Twice a day the first wife makes bread for the family.  This is their main food staple.  For us, she made some bread with lamb and spices mixed in. 

 


Here is Rasa learning how to flip the bread.  She has always liked to play with dough.  To cook it, she spreads it out on the white pad and then sticks it to the side of the mud oven (the hole on the bottom right).  When the bread is fully cooked, it starts to bubble and to peel off.  They use cotton twigs left over from the harvest to fire the oven.

 


I finally made friends with the youngest boy.  He just cried when we first got there but a little candy and seeing himself in the camera won him over.

 


What would a nomadic family tent be without satellite TV?

 


After lunch, we helped Abu Fouaz bring in the herd.  I kept trying to give the sheep hugs but they are just not as friendly as turkeys.

 


This is the queen sheep and where she goes the rest follows.  She has the bell so the kids can hear her when she tries sneaking away.

Man making a copper kettle by hand. Bab Mousalla, Damascus, Syria
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