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Lower north façade of prayer hall transept, Umayyad Mosque, Damascus

Religion

Syria has had an important place at the heart of many religions for more than five millennia.

Syria has been home to many religions. The pantheons of Mesopotamian, Phoenician, and Greco-Roman civilizations, as well as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have all left a significant mark on the region. In particular, the construction of temples, churches, and mosques represent the most significant material markers of religious practice in Syria. Major sites of religious practice throughout Syria’s history include the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, the Monastery of St. Symeon the Stylite near Aleppo, and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

View of the Temple of Bel, Palmyra, Syria
Temple of Bel, Palmyra. Photo by Frank Kidner, 1995. Dumbarton Oaks PHBZ024_2016_2695