Qal`at as Sim`an Things to Do

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Dating from the 10th century AD, the walls around the complex were built hastily by the Byzantines during their brief re-occupation of Syria under Nicephorus Phocas. The walls were meant to fortify the complex against potential attacks by the Arabs. The walls enclose the entire complex and are best preserved in the north and west.

The pillar on which Simeon Stylites spent 37 years has, over time, been reduced to nothing but its base and a block of stone. Over the years, pilgrims visiting the church chipped pieces of the pillar as souvenirs until most of it was gone. It is located in the middle of the central Octagonal Court, linking the four basilicas.

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The main façade of Saint Simeon's Church, located to the south, has survived incredibly well since its construction in the 5th century AD. It is considered the main architectural feature of Saint Simeon, and the most recognisable part. The façade is preceeded by a narthex, while the main façade behind it is made up of three arches topped with four arched windows and crowned with a single triangular wooden roof. Looking at the southern façade from a distance, it seems rather reminscent of the domed façade of the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, which was built with Byzantine craftsmanship.

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The main southern façade of Saint Simeon is preceeded by an intricately carved narthex made up of three arches, each topped with a triangle roof. The wooden roof of the narthex has not survived, but the holes on which the beams rested can still be seen in the stones of the façade. The columns supporting the arches are largely decorative, drawing upon and modifying Roman architectural elements. The column capitals are made up of acanthus leaves bending to one side and are identical in design to the column capitals used in the ancient Cathedral of Saint Helena, now Madrassa al-Halawiya, in Aleppo.

To the east of the Baptistery is a long structure, lying mostly in ruins. This structure once housed the many pilgrims who came to visit the complex of Saint Simeon. They must have enjoyed beautiful views towards the east!

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A large monastery that once housed resident and visiting monks and priests is located immediately to the south-west of Saint Simeon's Church. Architecturally, the monastery is more typically Syrian than the church itself, with the bold blocks forming perpendicular lines, rather than the Byzantine curves of the church. Substantial sections of the monastery have survived, with a three-floor façade standing upright. The cloister is between the monastery itself and the Eastern and Southern Basilicas of Saint Simeon.

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The Northern Basilica has also largely survived intact. Its façade, which once contained a columned portico, though is in partial ruins, with some of the columns half upright. The Mortuary Chapel and the north-eastern terrace are accessed through the front of the Northern Basilica.

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A most impressive chevet lay at the end of the Eastern Basilica. The Chevet is one of the most notable architectural features of Saint Simeon, surviving largely intact. It is intricately decorated both inside and outside. When visiting St Simeon, one must make sure to explore the exterior of the church at the northeastern end which allows the visitor to view the remarkable exterior of the Chevet.