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APAMEA

Inhabited since the Neolithic Period, it was occupied subsequently by the Persians up to the Macedonian conquest happened in the 333 B.C. In this period, Apamea was one of the four most important cities of the region, together to Antiochia, Seleucia and Laodicea. United in a Tetrapolis, they constituted the center of the power of the Seleucidis in Syria and particularly Apamea was select as military base, role that maintained for the whole Hellenistic epoch and for the following period of the Roman domination, initiated with the conquest of Pompeius (64-63 B.C.). It was center of a neoplatonic philosophical school. After the edict of Constantine, the city was enriched of churches and had an important role in the diffusion of the Christianity. The Arabic invaders showed a some religious tolerance and Apamea participated in the circumstances of the Crusaders conquests up to the two violent earthquakes of 1157 and 1170 that let collapse all the buildings. 

A Belgian mission has been for some year working for the archaeological recovery of the site.