APAMEA, SYRIA

Photograph courtesy of
Prof. Phillip V. Stanley

This is a view of the main street of Apamea, the cardo maximus, looking towards the north gate. The city was founded in the 3rd century BCE by Seleucus I and was named for his Persian wife. It was built at the crossing of the two main trade routes through Syria. It was visited by Antony and Cleopatra and the name was almost changed at that time. It was an important trade center in Roman Syria.