Syria - Zenobia-Halabiya

The Zenobia-Halabiya site is located alongside the Euphrates at the mouth of gorges where the course of the river narrows, as it flows across a gypsum plateau with a basalt outcrop. The Khanuqa rock bar was naturally favourable to establishing control over the river crossing. The legendary Zenobia of Palmyra is traditionally credited with founding twin cities on either side of the Euphrates: Halabiya and Zalabiya. Of the latter city, relatively few traces remain, as the river destroyed the cliff where it was built; the Zenobia site is, however, quite well preserved, even through the Euphrates appears to regularly flood the rampart that runs alongside it.

The site is in the shape of a triangular fan, the base of which is parallel to the Euphrates and the apex of which, on a hill, is the site of a fortress that towers above the city. The remains that are currently visible date back to the 6th century A.D., most of which date back more specifically to the rule of the Emperor Justinian. In fact, a text written by Procopius of Caesarea has allowed us to attribute a major project to rebuild the ramparts and redefine the city’s scheme for urban development and expansion to Justinian.

As part of a joint expedition, Université Paul-Valéry (Montpellier III) and the General Directorate for Antiquities and Museums in Syria intend, on one hand, to improve our understanding of the site’s history and, on the other hand, to help preserve the remains.

^{Online: september 2008}