Bara, Syria

Bara

بارة
Ruins of Bara
Shown within Syria
Location	Idlib Governorate, Syria
Coordinates	35°40′59″N 36°31′59″E / 35.683°N 36.533°E / 35.683; 36.533
Type	settlement
Part of	Dead Cities
History
Founded	4th century AD
Abandoned	12th century AD
Cultures	Byzantine
Site notes
Condition	ruined
Ownership	Public
Public access	Yes

Al-Bara البارة
Village
Country	Syria
Governorate	Idlib Governorate
District	Ariha District
Nahiyah	Ihsim
Population (2004 census)[1]
• Total	10,353
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

Bara or al-Bara (Arabic: بارة‎‎) is one of the former "Dead Cities" in northwestern Syria. It is located in the Zawiya Mountain approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi) north from Hama and approx. 80 km southwest from Aleppo. Al-Bara is also town in Ariha district. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), al-Bara had a population of 10,353 in the 2004 census.^[1]

The settlement was established in the fourth century at an important trade route between Antioch and Apamea. Due to good location and excellent conditions to produce wine and olive oil, it flourished in the 5th and 6th centuries. When Muslims conquered the region and trading routes were disrupted and other Dead Cities were abandoned, Bara remained inhabited, most inhabitants remained Christians, and the town even became a seat of a bishopric subordinate of Antioch.

In 1098, it was conquered by crusaders (from there they later set off to the infamous cannibalistic massacre of Ma`arat al-Numan) led by Raymond de Saint-Gilles. In 1123, the town was reconquered by Muslims who built a small fortress. Later in the 12th century, after a severe earthquake, the town was abandoned.

Later, in the beginning of the 20th century, a modern village of the same name arose near the site of the ancient town and till today it has grown to the size of a small town.

Ruins are the most extensive of all Dead Cities and are scattered among fields, olive groves and orchards. Among many others, one can distinguish remains of at least five churches, three monasteries, several villas, two pyramidal tombs and one underground tomb.

References

External links

• Simeon Citadel and Dead Cities, Suggestion to have al-Bara recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site, in 2006, as part of "Simeon Citadel and Dead Cities"-project.
• Syria Gate
• MiddleEast.com
• Tens of pictures of this dead city

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Al-Bara.

Idlib Governorate
Idlib District Idlib Subdistrict Idlib Al-Mastumah Faylun Qminas Aqrabat Arshani Ein Shib Kafruhin Kreiz Martein Nayrab Northern Ora Sijer Tab Issa - Eastern and Western Abu al-Duhur Subdistrict Abu al-Duhur Tell Sultan Tell Touqan Ballisa Baragethi Barissa Big Zafar Busra - Little Zafar Harmala Hmeimat Eldayer Hseiniyeh - Tell Kalba Jallas Jdidhe Abu Elthohur Msheirfeh MustAriha Ras El Ein Rasm Abed Tell Elaghar Tell Fukhar Tell Silmo Taljineh Talkhatra Tawahineh Tawil Elsheikh Tweim Taweila Saraqib Subdistrict Saraqib Khan al-Sabil Mardikh Abul Khos Afs Ajez Anqrati Bijfas Bweiti Dadikh Jobas Kafr Battikh Kafr Amim Khuwara Lof Maar Dibsi Maharem Rasafa Rayan Salamin San Sheikh Idris Tell Karatine Tronba Taftanaz Subdistrict Taftanaz Ketyan Maaret Elnaasan Shallakh Talhiyeh Maarrat Misrin Subdistrict Maarrat Misrin Zardana Haranabush Hizano Kafriya Kaftin Killi Maarrat al-Ikhwan Batenta Bhora Kafrehmul Kafr Jales Kafr Nabi Murin Ram Hamdan Taltuneh Binnish Subdistrict Binnish Al-Fu'ah Ta'um Sarmin Subdistrict Sarmin
Maarrat al-Nu'man District Maarrat al-Nu'man Subdistrict Maarrat al-Nu'man Abu Makki Babilla Barsa Bsida Al-Dana Deir Sharqi Ghadqa Halbeh Hantutin Harran Hatamiyeh Hazzan Hraki Jarada Jarjnaz Kafr Rumah Kanayes Kuweires Maar Shamshah Maar Shamarin Maar Shurin Maasaran Qaratli Samkeh Sarman Tell Dibis Tell Kersyan Tell Mannas Thahrat Talamnas Tqana Western Deir Khan Shaykhun Subdistrict Khan Shaykhun Abdin Baarbu Hbit Kafr Ein Nqeir Qasabiyeh Umm Zaytuna Sinjar Subdistrict Sinjar Abu Sharji Abul Eleij Bashkun Big Karatin Borj Brennan Dreibiyeh Dwadiyeh Eastern Lweibdeh Ejaz Fahil Jallas Ferwan Ghazileh Halban Hawa Heisa Jaberiyeh Jahman Jeb Elqasab Kafraya Elmaarra Karsanti Khayriyeh Khwein Elshaer Khyara Little Karatin Little Khayrieyh Magharet Merza Maksar Mardagana Burtuqala Mreiheb Mreijeb Elmashad Mutawaseta Nibaz Northern Lweibdeh Ojeh Qasr Elabyad Qatra Rabeeah Brennan Rabeeah Musa Rasm Elabed Saree Sayadi Seraa Shara - Sharat Elajayez Sheikh Barakeh Southern Umm Mweilat Sqiah Tell Dam Tell Elojeh Tell Halawa Tellemara Thleijeh Umm Sehrij Umm Tini Western Sarja Estern Sarja Kafr Nabl Subdistrict Kafr Nabl Hazarin Hass Basqala Big Dara Faqie Fleifel Ftireh Jbala Kafr Musa Kafr Oweid Karsaa Kawkabeh Lweibdeh Maar Tahroma Maar Tamater Maar Tesin Maarzita Milaja Northern Rasha Qoqfin Sfuhen Sheikh Mustafa Shorlin Tramla Umm Nir Tamanah Subdistrict Al-Tamanah Sukayk Abu Dali Abu Omar Big Khwein Breiseh Dajaj Farja Hamadaniyeh Mashraf Rajmel Mashraf Msheirfeh Qabliyeh Niha Northern Msheirfeh Qleiat Eltubiyeh Raffa Rweideh Sahal Shatib Tell Khanzir Tell Maraq Tama Umm Elkhalayel Umm Jalal Hish Subdistrict Hish Abu Habbeh Ameriyeh Amudiyeh Armanaya Babuline Kafr Basin Kafrsajna Maar Hattat Maysruneh Moqa Rakaya Sijneh Sahyan Sheikh Dames Al-Tah Tahtaya Salhiyeh Jbala
Ariha District Ariha Subdistrict Ariha Iblin Kafr Latah Kurin Nahlaya Shinan Urum al-Jawz Abkally Bab Ellah Banin Bazabur Berjhab Ebneh Kafr Shalaya Kafraziba Maarbalit Maarzaf Majdaliya Moataf Maataram Mseibin Nahleh Sarja Thaheriya Al-Badria Ihsim Subdistrict Ihsim Al-Rami Juzif Marayan Abdita Arnaba Balshun Balyun Bara Bsames Deir Sunbul Ein Laruz Farkya Kafr Haya Kansafra Maghara Marata Mozra Muhambal Subdistrict Muhambal Anb Bales Baqlid Baydar Shamsu Beftamun Bsanqul Hila Hlul Hmeimat Jadraya Kafrmid Kniseh Matleh, Ariha Northern Laj Ora Qabli - Edwan Sahen Sararif Shagurit Al-Sad Al-Marj
Jisr al-Shughur District Jisr al-Shughur Subdistrict Jisr al-Shughur Al-Marj Al-Akhdar Al-Sharqi Alyeh Balmis Bkafla Bsheiriyeh - Bello Bteibat Bzeit Dgali Ein Elhamra Ein Elsoda Eshtabraq Frikeh Ghanya Ghassaniyeh Halluz Hseiniyeh Jannet Elqora Kafir Kniset Nakhleh Maalaqa - Bishlamon Marj Elzohur Matleh Mintar Msheirfeh Qaysiyeh Rawda Sabileh Salhiyeh Sali Sokkariyeh Tell Awar Tell Hamki Umm Elgar Umm Rish Upper Sheikh Sindyan Upper Shghur Watba Western Marj Akhdar Al-Arien Shughur Tahtani Bidama Subdistrict Bidama Armala Baksariya Ein El-Bayda Hanbushiyeh Kherbet Eljoz Kinda Maraand Najiyeh Ramliyeh Shaturiyeh Tuffahiyeh Yunesiyeh Sheikh Sndian Tahtani Darkush Subdistrict Darkush Zarzur Amud Andnaniyeh - Farjein Deir Othman Dorriyeh Ghazala - Mgheidleh Jamiliya Matleh - Batlaya Mazuleh Maryamin Ramadiyeh Sadiyeh - Bsentiya Sawadiya - Nabhan Sheikh Issa Elashury Thahr Turin Zahraa Zanbaqi Janudiyah Subdistrict Al-Janudiyah Al-Qunaya Yakubiyah Athar Foz - Zuf Hamama - Kafr Debbin Hassaniyeh - Hatya Jdidet Eljisr Maland Mudiah - Luxin Nasra Qaderiyeh - Qayqun Tiba - Katrin
Harem District Harem Subdistrict Harem Ariba Besnaya - Bseineh Kafr Hum Kafr Mu Mira Shaq Dana Subdistrict Al-Dana Salwah Atme Qah Kafr Dariyan Sarmada Taladah Turmanin Aqrabat Burj Elnumra Deir Hassan - Darhashan Hezreh - Hezri Tell Elkarame Salqin Subdistrict Salqin Abu Talha Isqat Al-Alani Azmarin Talamar Betiya Big Hir Jamus Bozanti Delbiya Ein Elbikara Foziyeh Hamziyeh Kafarna Kafr Hind Kafrahlat Jallad Little Hir Jamus Saidiyeh Al-Tlul Al-Shiokh Kafr Takharim Subdistrict Kafr Takharim Kafr Kila Abarita Bshendlaya - Rashadiya Helleh Jadeen Kafr Mars Kuku - Ein Eljaj Taltita Qurqania Subdistrict Qurqania Banabil Barisha Qalb Loze Boz Ghaz Htan Kafr Aruq Meraf Elshalaf Rabeeta Radwa Ras Elhisn Sardin Torlaha Armanaz Subdistrict Armanaz Millis Bsaliya Biret Armanaz Dweila Ghafar Hafasraja Kabta Kuwaro - Umm Elriyah Quneitra Sheikh Yousef Haj Jomaa