Syria

[Heresson]

Here's Habibi Neccar's Camii. It's important, You'll see why...

[Heresson]

Here's a grave of Yunus and Yuhanna (Paul and John), two of three disciples of Jesus allegedly sent here and killed. Habibi Neccar himself was a shephard who tried to convince the crowd not to kill them - so the mob killed him as well and rolled his head up to the place where now his grave and mosque are located.

[Heresson]

Here's cave and church (built by crusaders) of St Peter, who used to teach here. There's a tunnel from the church outside (the mountain is filled with tunnels in general) and every catholic that comes here for a pilgrimage has all his sins forgiven.

[Ted Striker]

Freakin awesome pics

Anyone planning on going to Jordan? That's where I want to go next.

The Middle East pwnz all other tourist spots.

[Heresson]

Antioch, in case You don't know, is one of the most important historical places in entire world. While antiochean Libanios, the greatest speach-maker of the late antiquity claimed otherwise, the beginnings of the city are tied to the person of Antigonos the One-Eyed, one of Alexander's successors. He's built his capital Antigonia close to here. After (almost complete) fall of his state and his death, Seleukos destroyed Antigoneia but at the same time Antiochia, named after his father, was built close to it. While the capital of Seleukids was Seleukia, Antioch quickly rose to replace it. Later it was captured by Armenians under Tigranes the Great and then by Romans (Pompeius I think). It became one of the biggest and most prosperous cities of Roman Empire, the third after Rome and Alexandria. It was reknown for its pleasureous way of life. But at the same time it became one of the first centres of Christianity, where St Peter and St Paul guided the community and taught their disciples, here for the first time called Christians. Antioch became sit of a patriarchate and theology flourished in it. Its citizens were often the highest officials in the state, especially that many emperors and caesars lived here because of Persian threat. Its population reached half million at its best.
I don't remember the exact date, but somewhere around 638-640 Antioch was captured by Arabs and its importance started fading. It was recaptured by Byzantines somewhere around early seventies of X century. After Mantzikert battle, it was lost first to Armenians and later to Seldjuk Turks. it was recaptured by crusaders in 1098 and a Norman duchy of Antioch was established here by prince Boemund. Later Antioch was for some time subdued by Byzantines and it was captured by mamluk sultan Baybars in 1268. As Baybars ordered the gates of Antioch to be closed so that no-one could escape and exterminated the population and destroyed the city, it never regained its importance.
In 1516 it was captured by Ottoman Turks I believe, later for some time by Egyptians, after ww1 it became part of French mandate of Syria and a short-lived independant Hatay republic. In 1938 it was acquired by Turkey, Syria never recognised that.

[Heresson]

Here's Birbinkilise. It's located something like 50kms from Karaman in Turkey. There are ruins of byzantine churches and monasteries on top of a mountain. great place, but it's expensive to take a taxi there and there's not much other choice.

[Heresson]

Birbinkilise means 1001 churches in turkish.
yup, I am going to visit Jordan, but I don't know when.

[Ted Striker]

PS forgot to mention that Saladin was the man.

[Heresson]

It's winter, these are high mountains, it was cold and there was strong wind. Still I was so happy I was just running around everywhere, not walking.

[Heresson]

It's my favourite picture of this trip. It's close to Cevlik, near to Seleucia Pieria, Antioch's port. You can see sea there and some mountain, I'm not sure if it's not Musa Dag. I checked it and it seems so. It is fameous for the only armenian village in Turkey remaining and for that Armenians used to defend against Turks on it until they were taken away by foreign ships. There'a a polish poem about it.

[Heresson]

Here's Titus' Tunnel in Cevlik, it was made to protect Seleucia Pieria.

[Heresson]

and again

[Heresson]

Here's entrance/exit of it. A nice place; a stream, a little cascade, a little old bridge, steps carved in rock, lovely. The guy on the right in my friend from class in Damascus, a very nice and hospitable person who hosted me in Antioch

[Heresson]

And here's a part of necropolis close to it.

[Heresson]

Here's Gokyurt, a village 40-50kms from Konya. It was not worth money payed for the taxi (I could get to a closer village and get a taxi from there anyway), but there were some nice things there... Nice views, some caves and a church carved in a single rock - inside and outside. Here's the interior of it.