CONTENTS

1. The town of Bin Al-Walid
2. Location
3. Historical Glance
4. Rulers of Rome
5. Temorlink's Massacres
6. Treasures
7. Castle
8. Walls
9. Khaled Bin Al-Walid Mosque
10. Al-Nouri Grand Mosque
11. Remnants of Islamic Age
12. Modern Industries

1. Homs, the town of Bin Al-Walid

Homs is considered the third town in Syria after Damascus and Aleppo and situated halfway in between both. Homs occupies a prominent place in the history of Syria due to its distinguished position and due to events where it played a remarkable turn right throughout history due to its geographical situation and now it becomes the main pole of Syrian economic and its building and social developments.

2. Homs on the Cross - Roads:

Homs situated in between the desert from the East and the gateway of sea from the West, located in a wide area of plain and fertile area forming an important point of communications in Syria and its neighboring countries, thus the commercial roads from Damascus to Aleppo passes via Homs, and from the Desert to the Mediterranean Sea and thus it is connected to the sea by a broad valley easy to cross through. High ways connect Homs with Damascus 160 km, Aleppo 180 km, Tartous 90 km, Hama 47 km, Palmyra 165 km.

3. Historical Glance:

Homs is an ancient town, its history goes back to about 2300 years B.C. and it was according to historical records established in Calcium stone Age later on extended to become a town as a state governed by priests in the third century B.C.
There was a famous temple in Homs for worshiping sun likewise Baalbeck Temple mentioned more than once in the Bible.

4. Number of Homsies Who Ruled the Throne of Rome:

In the Roman regime Homs was known in the name of "Ameez" and Roman Empire confessed a local family since first century B.C. as ruling family and appeared in Homs in the third century A.D. Elia Gabal the grand priest in the temple of the Sun who attained the post of Emperor in year 218 A.D. who had taken much care in Syria and Homs.

5.The Safety of Homs from Temorlink's Massacres:

Homs becomes during the rules of Sayf Al-Dawlah Al-Hamadani in the fourth century under the rules of Aleppo kings. Several times taken over some princes, of them the poet Abo Ferras El-Hamadani the cousin of Sayf Al-Dawlah Al-Hamadani. Homs been completely destroyed in year 552 Hij. and reconstructed by Nour El-Dine Zinki and taken over by Salah Eldine Al-Ayoubi from Al-Amabeka year 570 Hij. attacked by crusaders in year 573 Hij.

6. Discovery of an Important Treasure in a Roman Cemetery:

This treasure goes back to the Royal Family in Homs in first century B.C. and now kept in the National Museum of Damascus which consists of gold plates used for the decoration of wooden tombs.
Caves and tunnels full with armament and old golden coins. Visitors to Homs may notice old poles, crowns of poles and gate arches written on it in Greek Language.

7. Homs Castle:

Established on a natural hill but been inhabited in old ages, in it remains from Roman, Byzantine and Arab ages, there are two towers from Al-Ayoubi age one situated in the north eastern corner and the second in north western. In the castle there are fortifications from the Solekian and Ottoman Regimes. The most who had taken care in its fortifications and construction of its towers, King "Sherkoh".

8. Homs Walls:

Nothing left of it besides one gate "El-Bab El-Masdoud" situated north-west of the castle.

9. Khaled Bin Al-Walid Mosque:

The Mosque of Khaled Bin Al-Walid Homs been named, situated to the north in Khalidi quarters. The construction of this ancient mosque was solid with huge foundations and solid knots ceiling from the remnant of King Daher Perbars. But the recent building goes back to the Ottoman days during the regime of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II. And been mentioned that Nazem Pasha, one of Damascus governors in the regime of Abdul-Hamid obtained 6000 Ottoman Dinars, whole of it spent as the cost ornaments which been on the tomb. Destroyed the old building completely and constructed the new mosque on the pattern of Costantine Mosque, and completed same in year 1331.

10. Al-Nouri Grand Mosque:

Situated in the middle of the town and in place of an old temple. Wadinkton believes that this mosque constructed in place of an old sun temple in the days of Al-Shegram. This mosque reconstructed in the days of Nour El-Dine Zenki and since was in the name of Al-Nouri Grand Mosque.

11. Remnants of Islamic Age:

Nothing has been left from Islamic age besides some tombs of the Sahabat of the Prophet Mohamed: Aba-Dather Al-Kaffarey, Abdel-Rahman Ben Jaffar Al-Tayyar, Damsa Aba El-Houl Abdul-Rahman Ben Auf, Omer Ben Abdul-Aziz.

12. Homs the Center of Syrian Modern Industries:

In spite of that agriculture in Homs goes back to old ages, Homs becomes the center of modern industries and it is not Homs industries but belongs to all towns of Syria, and establishment of such industries adopted Homs for its situation and easy communications, fertility of soil and availability of water. Thus founded in Homs sugar industry, petroleum refinery, cement factory, technical dyeing ...etc.