Ancient Town Amrit (عمریت)-Necropolis

The origins of Amrit date back to the end of the 3rd millennium BCE, with the first traces of settlement in the Middle Bronze Age. Around 1600 BCE, the city was founded by Amurrites from Arwad. In Egyptian records from the 15th century BCE, the site appears as the “City of Mrt.” From the time of Alexander the Great, around 333 BCE, Amrit was known as Marathos and came under the control of the Seleucid Empire after the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BCE. In the 3rd century BCE, the city attempted to gain independence from Arados and minted its own coins around 230 BCE. The exact destruction of the city is unknown, but Strabo described it around the turn of the millennium as a “demolished” Phoenician city. However, recent excavations in 2011 revealed the existence of Roman burial chambers, indicating later use.

The necropolis of the ancient city of Amrit is located in the Tartus Governorate in Syria, specifically in the Talkalakh district, about six kilometers south of the center of Tartus. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 14 meters above sea level, nestled between the river mouths of Nahr al-Amrit and Nahr al-Qubli.

Visitors can explore the extensive remains of the ancient city of Amrit today. Particularly noteworthy are the al Maghazil tomb towers, which rest on square bases and rise above underground burial chambers. The tallest of these monuments reaches a height of about 7.50 meters above ground and is topped with a cylindrical block and a damaged pyramid. Another tower, nearly 7 meters high, features three cylindrical components with decreasing diameters, adorned with lion protomes and crenellated friezes. East of the Maghazil lies the actual necropolis with nine hypogea, containing burial chambers and loculi.

• Ancient City of Amrit (عمریت)-Temple (Ancient Structures), approx. 0.8 km away
• Ancient City of Amrit (عمریت)-Stadium (Ancient Structures), approx. 1.0 km away
• Crusader Castle Aruad (Castle), approx. 5.6 km away
• Temple Baitokaike (حصن سليمان) (Ancient Structures), approx. 32.4 km away