Shehba is the birthplace of the Emperor Philip the Arabian who reigned in Rome from 244 to 149 BC-the only Arab to rule Rome. It has a some ruins and a little museum with amazing mosiacs. It also has the biggest Druze population in Syria. Druze began as a sect of Shi'a Islam. Some Druze consider themselves Muslim, but others don't. They are a very secretive group-they don't intermarry and you can't convert. The women wear white, crocheted shalls and the men have long beards and turbins. They seem to be the Islamic version of the Amish! There are Druze communities all over the world, and my tour book said you can check them out at www.druze.com!
Bosra is an ancient city dating back to 1334 BC. Bosra (referred to in the Bible) became one of the leading Nabatean cities before being made the capital of the Province of Arabia by its Roman conquerors (106 AD). It was a major commerce for caravans, with several market places and fine buildings, until the fall of the Roman Empire. Early Bosra was Christian, but it has it's link to Islam r According to tradition, thMuhammad's had a conversation here with a Nestorian monk named Bahira, who is said to have prophecized of his nephew.
Bosra was the first city in Syria to become Muslim. The minarets on the mosque are the oldest, still standing, in whole of Islam. Bosra was on the way to Mecca, so many people stopped their on their pilgramage. Prosperity lasted until the 17th century when the region was became unsafe and the pilgrims began to take a less dangerous route further west.
