A Roman monumental building in south-east Damascus?

Abstract

Walls of a monumental building, apparently Roman in date, were found in the south-eastern section of the old city of Damascus in the basement of an Ottoman house during its conversion into a hotel in 2004–2011. The wall appears to be oriented to the Roman grid. The discovery of walls of a possible Roman monumental structure raises several important questions about the topography of this poorly understood part of ancient Damascus. This paper discusses the nature of the ashlars, notable for their size, their possible date and whether they were a part of a gymnasium constructed by Herod the Great.

Keywords:

• Roman Damascus
• Herod
• gymnasium
• monumental architecture