Damascus, Sept. 15 (SANA) Rising from the vast Syrian desert, Resafa’s luminous gypsum-colored walls resemble an urban island emerging from the sands. Sunlight transforms its stones from white to gold, while its silent gateways open onto a city once traversed by armies, caravans and pilgrims before becoming the residence of an Umayyad caliph who left behind palaces, gardens and water installations that defied the arid environment.

SANA Cultural’s “Pulse of Heritage” feature explores Resafa, a city whose archaeological layers encompass the remains of a Roman fortress, a major Christian pilgrimage center and the residence of Umayyad Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.

Interest in the site has gained renewed significance following the German Archaeological Institute’s publication in April 2026 of a study presenting the results of surveys, excavations and examinations of the city walls. This followed the release of an atlas in 2024 documenting 14 phases of Resafa’s urban development, drawing on a century of research, mapping and architectural studies.

Roman Influence and Frontier Defense Network

Field archaeological studies have found no tangible material evidence of the Assyrian period within the fortress. They indicate that the site became a strategic outpost at the beginning of the Roman era, forming a key link in the Roman Empire’s eastern frontier defense system against the Sassanids.

German researcher Michaela Konrad, in her study of fortifications in the Syrian desert, said Resafa formed part of a carefully engineered defensive line, with forts spaced about 30 kilometers apart, connecting Resafa with stations at Palmyra, al-Sukhna and al-Kawm, extending to Sura on the Euphrates River.

Sergiopolis Opens its Gates to Pilgrims

The city’s demographic and urban landscape changed dramatically when it developed into a major Christian pilgrimage center known as Sergiopolis. Reports by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), which began systematic excavations at the site in 1952, documented details of this expansion.

The institute’s research volumes showed that the Great Cathedral, academically known as Basilica A, was built according to an advanced architectural design capable of accommodating thousands of pilgrims and travelers. The reports also highlighted the intricate carving of marble capitals, columns and geometric decorations, cementing the city’s status as one of the most significant surviving examples of Byzantine heritage in the Levant.

Resafa Becomes Center of Umayyad Caliphate

From his summer residence in Resafa between 724 and 743 AD, Umayyad Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik governed the vast Umayyad state, whose territories extended across large parts of the ancient world in both East and West. The desert city became a center of political and military decision-making from which campaigns and movements across three continents under Umayyad rule were directed.

Historian Ibn Kathir documented the extent of this influence in his encyclopedic work Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, noting that during Hisham’s reign, the caliphate’s armies were simultaneously fighting on distant fronts stretching from beyond the borders of China in the east to the heart of France in the west. This historical account illustrates the administrative capabilities of a caliph who governed this vast realm from Resafa while consolidating its security and administrative and financial stability.

Resafa in Poetry of Said Akl

The legacy of this far-reaching rule transcended traditional geographical boundaries and inspired prominent modern writers and poets, who drew upon the era of the Umayyad caliph in their works. The political power emanating from the heart of the Levant became a defining image in their literary imagination.

The late Lebanese poet Said Akl captured the vast reach of Umayyad rule under Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik in a celebrated verse from his poem Sa’ilini Ya Sham:

“The Umayyads, if their realm grew too narrow for them, would annex the world to Hisham’s garden.”

Resafa reached the height of its urban prosperity when Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik made it a permanent summer residence for himself and his court. The site also became commercially and politically known as “Resafa of Hisham,” witnessing extensive construction beyond its traditional Byzantine walls.

Researcher Martin Gussone published a specialized archaeological study of the city’s southern suburbs, focusing on residential remains discovered outside the walls. His research established the presence of two Umayyad palaces surrounded by gardens and integrated irrigation systems, illustrating the Umayyads’ desire to combine desert life with sophisticated architecture.

Ingenious Water Engineering in the Desert

Life in this arid region was sustained by a network of massive underground water cisterns designed with remarkable engineering precision. Researchers at the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums say these reservoirs could hold millions of liters of rainwater and floodwater channeled through specially designed conduits.

The cisterns were built from impermeable stone resistant to leakage and provided sufficient water reserves for residents, armies and passing caravans throughout the year. The system demonstrates the ability of ancient Syrian engineers to devise sustainable solutions capable of overcoming the harsh desert environment.

Towering Fortifications and Tragic End

The city was enclosed by a massive rectangular wall reinforced by around 54 defensive towers of varying shapes, including round and polygonal structures designed to provide comprehensive surveillance.

Builders used gypsum stone and pink marble extracted from nearby quarries, giving the structures a striking brilliance under the sunlight.

The late Syrian researcher Bashir Zuhdi documented the city’s tragic end in his book Resafa, Pearl of the Syrian Desert: Its History and Antiquities. He wrote that the city was completely devastated and demolished in 1259 AD by Mongol forces led by Hulagu, prompting its inhabitants to flee amid fears of the surrounding atrocities.

Resafa has remained deserted since then, an open-air museum whose silence recounts the story of a civilization that flourished in the heart of the desert. Its isolated ruins have become a repository of cultural memory, where preserving the stones serves as a means of safeguarding the history of the site and passing it on to future generations.

MHD