Damascus, SANA- Jableh Amphitheater is an archaeological building and a Roman theater located in the center of the Syrian city of Jableh on the Mediterranean coast, about 30 km south of Latakia city.

It is a historical archaeological site and a vivid example of Roman architecture on the Phoenician coast, a testament to the antiquity of this coastal city and its historical status.

This amphitheater is considered the fifth most important archaeological amphitheater in the world and one of eight archaeological theaters discovered in Syria. This type of construction and building is well-thought-out as one of the most famous Syrian architectural arts and can accommodate 8,000 spectators.

It was built on a flat, hard, rocky terrain with a high load-bearing capacity that does not require foundation supports, and it consists of the traditional components of a Roman theater, including the orchestra, stage, facade, backstage and actors’ rooms, the stands and seats, stairs, side aisles, and the entrances.

A number of historians believe that its construction dates back to the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, but researcher Younis Khair Bek believes otherwise, as he says that through an architectural study of its location and geometric decorations, we can date its construction back to the second century AD.

Khair Bek noted that most historians and geographers have mentioned that the Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan built a fortress in Jableh outside the old Roman fortress. It can be concluded from this that the Byzantine Romans turned it into a fortress to defend the city during the Arab Islamic conquest of Jableh. It seems that it remained a fortress even during the Crusader, Ayyubid, and Mamluk periods This is evidenced by the added buildings and the archaeological pieces of pottery and coins that appeared during excavation work.

The famous researcher Ernest Renan visited it in 1860 AD, and he described it as one of the most beautiful Roman ruins on the Phoenician coast. It was later visited by the French researcher René Dussaud in 1895 AD.

Its historical and archaeological significance has made it a popular destination for visitors, tourists, and those interested in antiquities, and it hosts numerous artistic activities and festivals annually.

Fedaa al-Rhayiah