Hama :
47 Km north of Homs, is the beautiful city of Hama. Using
the Orontes River as its cooling system and the Orontes
valley for greenery, Hama was always very picturesque. Hama
is also the center of Syria's steel and iron industries.
The most interesting feature in Hama, are the Norias
(wooden waterwheels), and having a drink or lunch at the
restaurant on the riverside is a popular pastime.
The History of Hama
Unlike the cities of Aleppo and Damascus, nothing much of
the ages is still existent in Hama. Excavations on and near
the citadel hill, which is now replaced by a park, reveal
remains belonging as far back as the Neolithic period.
Also found were some remains form the 11th Century BC, when
Hama was the center of Syro-Hittite. It was also the
capital of the Aramean kingdom, as Hamath. Hamath is
mentioned several times in the Old Testament.
In 720 BC Hama, as well as the rest of Syria was conquered
by the Assyrians, followed by the Persians. Hama came to be
known as Epiphania when it fell to the Seleucids in 200 BC.
When the Romans and then the Byzantines took over, it was
used as a center for administration until it fell to the
Arabs yet remained weaker than the other Syrian states.
The Arabs took over Hama by capitulation in 636 AD. But it
was always overshadowed by the Northern power in the form
of Aleppo, and the
Southern power in the form of Damascus. However it
flourished under the Ayyubids, and the Ottomans left their
emblem in the form of a couple of Khans and a beautiful
Azem Palace
Copyright © Syrian embassy-London 2005