 Latakia is Syria’s main sea-port on the Mediterranean (186 km southwest of Aleppo). It has retained its importance since ancient times. Latakia was one of the five cities built by Saluqos Nikator in the second century B.C. He named it after his mother, Laudetia.
Not many ancient remains have survived in Latakia, but there are four columns and a Roman arch from the time of Septimus Severus ( circa 200 A.D.), in addition to a beautiful Ottoman construction called “Khan al-Dukhan”, which is now a museum.
Latakia is the sea-gate to Syria. It is well-provided with accommodation, and is well-placed as a base from which to explore the coastal regions of the country.
There are beaches, mountains, archaeological sites and many relics of the Crusaders, all within a few hours from each other.
Mention should also be made of the historically important Ras Shamra, only 16 km to the north of Latakia. This is the site of Ugarit, the kingdom that had a golden past in administration, education diplomacy, law, religion and economics between the 16th and the 13th centuries B.C. It is the kingdom that gave humanity the first alphabet in the world. This alphabet is still preserved in a clay tablet at the National Museum in Damascus.
Documents, statues and jewels from the Ugarit kingdom are also on display at the Latakia, Aleppo and Tartus museums.
Jableh is another Syrian seaside town, 28 km to the south of Latakia.
It has a theatre built to accommodate 7,000 to 8,000 spectators. Close to Jableh is Tel Sokas, where archaeological relics were recently found, now on exhibition at the Damascus and the Tartus museums.
|
