 THE LAND BEYOND THE JORDAN
Land of Ammon, of Moab, Edom and the Midianites, Jordan, is
a lovely country of escarpments and deserts, with scenic
overtones of Biblical times. This is the domain of the
Nabatean Arabs, traders in frankincense and myrrh, with their
marvellous capital at Petra, while in the north lies the
reconstructed Roman city of Jerash. Recently the site of
Bethany beyond the Jordan has been discovered here. We reflect
on this land and consider the many events and peoples who have
passed this way
THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
Travel the road to Syria and to Damascus. Since the dawn of
history Syria has been a cross-roads where different peoples,
cultures and empires have met. Visit Palmyra - haunt of the
warrior Queen Xenobia - rising out of the desert in a forest
of columns. Here too are the Roman cities of Apamea and Bosra.
EARLY CHRISTIANS & CRUSADERS
 The early Christian period is well
represented. Visit the Church of St Simeon Stylites, in its
day the largest church ever built. Or Maalula, where Aramaic,
the language of Jesus, is still spoken. In Syria too are the
very best Crusader Castles in the world, like Margat and Krak
des Chevaliers.
BAALBEK & THE BEQAA
On a one day visit we can travel to Coele Syria, as the
Romans called the Lebanon. Amid the magnificent mountain
scenery of the Beqaa Valley lies the huge site of Baalbek, one
of the great architectural wonders of antiquity.
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