Situated some 90 kilometres south-east of Damascus, it is well-known for its plentiful vineyards. It stands 1100 metres above sea-level, and was known by the name of Suwada (little black town) in the Nabatean period, because it was built with black volcanic stone. The Romans, in the 3rd century, considered it one of the most important towns in the Province of Arabia and called it Dionysus.
Ruins of ancient civilizations are numerous but widely scattered; some of the most notable of these, along with a collection of exquisite mosaics discovered in 1962, are now housed in the Sweida Museum. One part of this mosaic collection represents Artemis, goddess of chastity and the hunt, surrounded by her nymphs when she is surprised by a hunter while bathing. This fine roman work dates back to the sixth century. Another scene portrays the birth of Venus and the wedding of Thetis. Statues carved in hard basalt show signs of a mixture of Nabatean, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab influences.
There are also the ruins of a 3rd century Roman temple surrounded by a colonnade of Corinthian columns.
Shahba (Sweida Province)
In the Jabal al-Arab region 90 kilometres south-east of Damascus. Shahba stands in an oasis of orchards and vineyards. Renowned as the birthplace of the Syrian Emperor Philip who ruled the Roman Empire between 244 and 249 A.D. to honour him, the city bore the name Philipopolis during the Roman period. He took a personal interest in the city, planned it after the Roman style, built numerous palaces and temples in it, erected triumphal arches and public baths, a theatre and a great wall surrounding it. He is said to have wanted to turn Shahba into a replica of Rome itself.
Visitors to the Shahba museum can see the immense mosaic panels representing ancient Greek myths; the god of wine and fertility Dionysus, the goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite, and the legendary poet and musician Orpheus. Another collection of Shahba's mosaic panels is in the National Museum in Damascus.
Remains of the city temple (Philipon), some public baths, parts of the old wall and its four gates, as well as the two intersecting thoroughfares and the Roman Canal can still be seen in the town.
Salkhad
Some 38 kilometres south of Sweida and 20 km east of Bosra. Here you find:
- Remains of a citadel built by the Nabateans on a volcanic hill; It was renovated by the Ayoubites and Mamluks who added watch-towers to the original building.
- The minaret of an Ayoubite mosque in the town square.
- An Ayoubite tomb with stones inscribed with Arabic lettering.
Some 38 kilometres south of Sweida and 20 km east of Bosra. Here you find:
- Remains of a citadel built by the Nabateans on a volcanic hill; It was renovated by the Ayoubites and Mamluks who added watch-towers to the original building.
- The minaret of an Ayoubite mosque in the town square.
- An Ayoubite tomb with stones inscribed with Arabic lettering.
Qanawat
7 kilometres east of Sweida, it was a city of great importance during the Roman period. In the year 60 B.C., the Romans named it one of the Decapolis League of commercial cities of which Damascus was chief city. This position of importance explains the abundance and richness of its ruins which are among the most interesting in the whole Jabal al-Arab region.
The location of Qanawat lends beauty to its remains; the village lies stretched along the crest of a hill and extends down the side of a valley full of trees, orchards, meadows and fields.
Of greatest interest to the visitor is a cluster of columns which were part of a 2nd century temple dedicated to the sun god Helios. Another temple of the same period dedicated to Zeus was built with decorated basalt. Of this temple there are only six columns left. On the right side of the valley there are the remains of an Odeon.