Syrian Times August, 2004
Hosn Suleiman, a miracle of architecture is located 25 kms from Safita.
The wall of the Hosn is still in good condition and boasts four gates. The stones of the wall are not the same as to the stones found in and around Dreykish. They are from distant palaces.
Archaeologists believe that Hosn Suleiman is a Temple of Zeus. The wall of the temple is 142 meters long and 90 meters wide..
The eastern and western fronts of the wall are decorated with engravings and carvings and the main entrance is also decorated with carvings, mihrabs and wonderful monuments.
Writing and carvings on the stones of Hosn Suleiman show that the Hosn (Fort) is the temple of Zeus which dates back to the second century A.D.
Gold Coins unearthed at the site date back to the Fatimid period of Islam.
To the north of the temple lies the convent which is a Byzantine church.
So it is believed that the Temple was first built by the seleucids. It was then conquered by the Byzantines, but later fell to Fatimid Moslems. |