Zalabiye
{{short description|Archaeological site in Deir ez-Zor, Syria}}
{{About||the deep-fried spongy-cake or fritter by this name|Zalabiyeh}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Zalabiye
|native_name = زلبيّة
|alternate_name =
|image = Zalabiya,east.jpg
|alt = A ruinous stone wall in a desert landscape
|caption = Zalabiye seen from the northeast
|map =
|map_caption =
|map_type = Syria
|map_alt =
|map_size =
|location = {{flag|Syria}}
|region = Deir ez-Zor Governorate
|coordinates = {{coord|35.6685|39.8425|display=inline}}
|type = Fortified town
|part_of =
|length =
|width =
|area =
|height =
|builder =
|material =
|built = Third century CE
|abandoned =
|cultures =
|dependency_of =
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|excavations =
|archaeologists =
|condition = Ruins
|ownership =
|management = Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums
|public_access = Yes
|website =
|notes =
}}
Zalabiye ({{langx|ar|زلبيّة}}) is an archaeological site on the left bank of the Euphrates in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria.
Overview
The site is located near a narrow gap in the Euphrates Valley that is created by basalt outcrops and that is called al-khanuqa, or "the strangler".{{cite book |title=The monuments of Syria. A guide |last=Burns |first=R. |year=2009 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |location=London |isbn=978-1-84511-947-8|pages=160–161}} On the opposite river bank, some {{convert|3|km}} upstream, lies the contemporary fortress of Halabiye. Zalabiye was built during the third century CE when the short-lived Palmyrene Empire, centred on the oasis-city of Palmyra, extended its reach toward the Euphrates area. The fortifications of the site were subsequently improved under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527–565) as part of his program to strengthen the eastern border of the empire.{{cite book |title=The monuments of Syria. A guide |last=Burns |first=R. |year=2009 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |location=London |isbn=978-1-84511-947-8|page=303}}
The site originally had a rectangular shape surrounded by a fortification wall protected by square towers. Due to poor construction, the site has suffered from earthquakes and erosion by the Euphrates. Stones have also been used as ballast for the nearby railway. Today, only the eastern wall with eight towers and a gate remains. Beyond the city walls, on Zalabiye's north and east sides, lay extensive suburbs. Approximately {{convert|1|km}} upstream from Zalabiye, a dam had been built in the Euphrates with a diversion canal on the river's right bank. It is thought that the canal was constructed during the first century CE or possibly even during the Late Bronze Age. The Arabs named the canal after legendary queen Semiramis.
The proposed construction of the Halabiye Dam will lead to the flooding of Zalabiye by the dam's reservoir and the Syrian government works with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNESCO to limit the impact of the dam on the ancient ruins of Halabiye and Zalabiye.{{cite book |url=http://www.undp.org.sy/files/Old%20Souks.pdf |title=Reviving the business climate and boosting tourism in Deir Ezzor |author=Government of the Syrian Arab Republic State Planning Commission & the United Nations Development Programme |year=2008 |access-date=18 March 2011}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |title=Amurath to Amurath |last=Bell |first=G.L. |author-link=Gertrude Bell |year=1911 |publisher=Heinemann |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/amurathtoamurath00bell/page/67 67]–68 |oclc=2135999 |url=https://archive.org/details/amurathtoamurath00bell |quote=amurath to amurath. }}
External links
- [http://www.archaeolinks.com/news.php?user=12&spw=&lan=de&repno=392&- Note on the impact of the Halabiye Dam on Zalabiye] (in French)