Deir Sunbul

Deir Sunbul, or Ter Sumbil as mentioned regionally, sits atop a hill covered with olive groves west of Al-Bara. Founded in the 6th century, it served as a retreat for clergymen from northern Syria. The monastery features a three-tiered structure opening onto a relevant courtyard, crowned by a small church with a sequare base that culminates in a semi-round dome. Its floor is adorned with an intricate animal mosaic, depicting gazelles and peacocks accumulated around a Tree of Life, bearing the signature of an artisan named Ephraim.

Rainwater was collected in cisterns carved into the rock through a sophisticated system of stone gutters. Unfortunately, in 2015, much of the southern facade was destroyed because of unauthorized excavations, though the northern walls and basalt foundations have endured. Recent satellite imagery shows an advancing erosion of the earthen roof.