(Roman Temple
17 km)
Take the Damascus road from Chtaura,
turning right at Merj through Haouch El-Harimeh then left at
Khiara. A huge school complex on the left 3.5 kilometers
before Khiara makes a good landmark. The village of Dekweh is
another two kilometers furtherr on, and can be seen in the
distance on the lower slopes of the moutain.
Just behind this small village, inhabited
by sheep herders and farmers, is a renovated temple set in its
own yard. With its four walls intact up to roof level and the
corners of the pediment still in situ, it is an excellent
example of a temple in nearly complete condition.
A path on the hillside behind it leads up
to an ancient necropolis - a ten to fifteen-minute walk. Two
cave openings are immediately accessible. The larger cave has
five arched caults, two stone sacrophagi, and a number of tomb
niches. The second cave is smaller with two arched niches. |
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