Syria

Jableh

Between the town of Banias and Syria's main port of Latakia lies the small port of Jableh. Known as Gabala, another Phoenician port belonging to the Arvadians, it was named Zibel under the crusaders and then was given its name back under the Mamelukes.

It passed through the usual hands that have occupied Syria and flourished relatively under the Romans and the crusaders whence it was split between the Templars and the Hospitallers. In 1285 it was taken by the Mameluke Sultan Qalaun, and has been of little importance since then.

The historical background of Jableh has been mostly destroyed by the growth in population. However the remains of a magnificent Roman amphitheater comparable to the one in Bosra, is still evident. It is over 90 meters across and originally had 30 rows, although only 20 exist now. This theater was turned into a fortress by the crusaders. Some of its remains can be seen at a nearby mosque called 'Mosque of Sidi Ibrahim Bin Adham'; this mosque stands on the site of a church built by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century.