Ruins of the Middle East (Photo Essay)

I somehow didn’t really care about exploring the Middle East until I arrived there. Well, isn’t this normally true that you don’t know what you are missing until you have experienced it. A highlight across much of the Middle East is the ancient ruins of which some of the most impressive are in Iran (Persepolis, etc.), Jordan (Jerash, Petra, etc.), Syria (Bosra, Palmyra, Apamea, etc.), Lebanon (Baalbek, Tyre, etc.) and others. If I have to pull out one exceptionally interesting country with ancient ruins, then it unequivocally must be Syria. Incredibly sad how Syria and its people are being destroyed as we speak.

Gate of Xerxes, Persepolis, IRAN

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Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek, LEBANON

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Temple of Bel, Palmyra, SYRIA

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Great Colonnade and Qala’at Ibn Maan, Palmyra, SYRIA

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Palace of Xerxes, Persepolis, IRAN

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Church of Saint Theodore, Jerash, JORDAN

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Cardo Maximus, Jerash, JORDAN

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Crusader Castle, Byblos, LEBANON

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Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek, LEBANON

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Ancient Roman Theatre, Bosra, SYRIA

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Monumental Arch and Great Colonnade, Palmyra, SYRIA

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Great Colonnade (Cardo Maximus), Apamea, SYRIA

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Agora, Hierapolis, TURKEY

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Gate of Xerxes, Persepolis, IRAN

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