Homs

Homs (Arabic, حمص Himş) is a city and governorate in Syria. The city is located on the Orontes river, dating back to 2300 B.C.. In Roman times it was known as Emesa, and it was known as Kadesh during Biblical times. The Krak des Chevaliers is built on the mountain gap near Homs. It is also home to the Tomb of Khalid bin Walid, a famous and celebrated Muslim Warrior. The current population of the city is 700,000.

Ancient Homs (Emesa)

Emesa had a temple to the Syrian sun god El Gebal (Aramaic), also called Elagabalus (Latin) and Heliogabalus (Greek). During Roman times Emesa was ruled by its local dynasty of priest-kings (see Royal Family of Emesa). It was the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, better known as Elagabalus, who was a hereditary priest of the his namesake deity and succeeded his cousin Caracalla in 218. Emesa was also Roman Emperor Aurelian's headquarter during his campaign against Queen Zenobia of Palmyra.

The residents of Homs (Hamasne) have a reputations of being crazy and having an official holiday (every Wednesday) for practicing a Crazy Fest (Eid El- Majaneen). This myth has its roots in antiquity when the Romans decided to conquer the city. When the citizens heard the Romans were approaching, the council put out advisories for residents to act as if they were crazy. Plans were put for the citizens to eat with full mouths, excrete in the open, dance, and make practical jokes. The resident followed this advice, ensuring the siege was not violent.

Governorate

The Homs governorate encompasses the city of Homs and the surrounding countryside. It is bordered to the south by the Rif Dimashq governorate, to the north by the Tartous, Hama, and Ar Raqqah governorates, and to the east by the Dayr az Zawr governorate.

External links

Homs
http://www.acrosssyria.blogspot.com
http://www.homslife.com/
http://www.homsonline.com/
http://www.syriagate.com/Syria/about/cities/Homs/
http://www.syriatourism.org/Destinations/homs.htm

Cities in Syria | History of Syria

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Ancient Homs (Emesa)

Governorate

External links