Syria continues to be in the news as its government persists in its use of violence to crack down on protests inspired by the Arab Spring. It is the latest of many upheavals the country has been through since its formation as a state. In the country are reminders of past turmoil and upheaval. Over 700 abandoned settlements bear the collective name The Dead Cities of Syria.
These abandoned municipalities scatter the landscape and contain the remains of a confident, vibrant and sophisticated culture - one which effectively disappeared over fifteen hundred years ago. Left behind, incredible and ancient structures are testament to the ingenuity and piety of the people who once lived here.
(thanks Robert-John)The Presurfer