Cyrrhus

 

Cyrrhus, which lies roughly 70km northwest of Aleppo on the Turkish/Syrian border, is well-known as one of the earliest Christian Bishoprics. The city was founded by Seleucus Nicator around 300 BCE and shares a name with the Macedonian City of Cyrrhus. It is a common misconception that the city derives its name from king Cyrus of Persia.

The area has been excavated by French teams in the 1930s-1950s and has been a joint project of Lebanese University and Syria’s DGAM since 2006. Many of the impressive architectural features, such as the Roman amphitheatre, were originally excavated by French teams. The site boasts one of the larges amphitheatres in Syria. The site also features two Roman bridges which are in working order.

The area was once said to be home to 800 churches, and the remains of the magnificent Basilica Church can still be seen within the walls of Cyrrhus today. The church is said to have held the relics of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian. As yet largely unexcavated, a 6^th century CE Byzantine citadel stands on the hill behind the theatre. It shows both Greek and Egyptian influence, but little more is known about it.

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