Shahba

Shahba (also known as Philippopolis) is an ancient Roman city located 87 km south of Damascus. It was founded by Emperor Philip the Arab, who built it as a symbolic capital dedicated to his family during his reign between 244 and 249 AD. However, the building of the city stopped abruptly after Philip's death and was never finished. Shahba contains the ruins of a forum, a palace, a temple, a theater, baths and a kalybe. The city today has a museum that exhibits some beautiful examples of Roman mosaic art.