Roman Columns of Sarmada

Colonnade of Sarmada
2nd Century AD

The Roman colonnade of Sarmada consists of two rows of Corinthian columns, forming part of an ancient Roman commercial bazaar. Sixteen white limestone columns, each rising 16 meters tall and topped with intricately carved Corinthian capitals decorated with vegetal motifs, line the side of the current international highway.

A Latin inscription preserved at the site bears the name of Emperor Philip the Arab, who ruled in the mid-3rd century AD, suggesting that the market likely expanded during his reign.

Despite the heavy trucks passing by, the columns have remained stable thanks to their broad bases, which provide firm support. In 2023, the Syrian Directorate of Antiquities installed protective fencing and vibration monitoring equipment around the site, along with recommendations to prohibit trucks weighing more than 30 tons from passing close to the colonnade to prevent structural damage.