Hosn Suleiman

Hosn Suleiman (Arabic حصن سليمان) is found on the slope of Alnabi Alsaleh mountain at altitude 950m, at a distance of 20km from Dreikish and 56km from Tartous. It is surrounded by mountains' high summits.

Hosn Suleiman is called also Khikhi temple (Arabic معبد خيخي) or Sisi house (Arabic بيت سيسي) and it is hinted from the naming that it bears semitic roots, and maybe dedicated to the god "betosisi", which is considered the healing god of the Romans. Also known as Baal (Bel) temple, ascribed to god Baal. Still there is village nearby called Betalous (Arabic بتعلوس). Baal was called also Baalous, and a roman emperor existed as Aleiga Baalous, who fought to let Rome admit the worship of Baal.

The location was in close relation with Arwad kingdom (Arados) in the times of Phoenicians, and was a source of wood for ship industry.

But the location of Hosn Suleiman was known before this either. It was an important site during Hellenic and Roman periods. Syria was then part of Seleucid Empire.

Now visitors can see the huge stones of the temple, with inscriptions in Greek and Latin.

External links

[http://www.syriancastles.com/suleiman.htm Hosn Suleiman from Syrian Castles]

See also

List of castles in Syria