Bosra is the ancient city in Syria whose Roman ruins include a famous well-preserved theater.
Bosra lies in southern Syria, near the modern border with Jordan. It became an important settlement under the Nabataeans and later served as the capital of the Roman province of Arabia Petraea. Roman control began in the early 2nd century CE.
The Roman theater at Bosra was built in the 2nd century and is notable for its dark basalt construction. It could accommodate thousands of spectators and was later incorporated into a medieval fortress, which helped protect much of the structure.
Bosra’s historic remains also include Roman streets, baths, a monumental arch, early Christian buildings, and Islamic monuments. UNESCO added the Ancient City of Bosra to the World Heritage List in 1980. The site has suffered serious damage during Syria’s modern conflict.