The images in this gallery are of the ghostly Dead Cities of Serjilla and Al-Bara that are part of a ring of hundreds of deserted Byzantine settlements in north-western Syria.
Located in semi fertile and isolated landscape, the once bustling and prosperous towns were important produces of olive oil and wine in the region especially during the fifth and sixth century. Between the 7th century and 12th century, Byzantine towns were abandoned due to the winding down of merchant routes...
more »The images in this gallery are of the ghostly Dead Cities of Serjilla and Al-Bara that are part of a ring of hundreds of deserted Byzantine settlements in north-western Syria.
Located in semi fertile and isolated landscape, the once bustling and prosperous towns were important produces of olive oil and wine in the region especially during the fifth and sixth century. Between the 7th century and 12th century, Byzantine towns were abandoned due to the winding down of merchant routes between Antioch and Apamea due to the Arabs conquests of the region. Earthquakes also played a part in forcing people to leave. The extensive well-preserved semi intact stone remains date from around the fifth and sixth centuries and give an insight into the way of life and prosperity of the towns. Highlights include the pyramid tombs, sarcophagi, churches, bathhouses, villas, and press houses.
« less
