Hama

Hama is a big city in Syria.

It sits by the Orontes River.

The city is very old. Long ago, people lived there.

Hama has seventeen large water wheels. They are called norias. People look at them today.

The city is known for making cheese. They make a sweet cheese treat.

It is one of the largest cities in the land.

Hama is a special place to see.

Hama is a big city in Syria.

It sits on the banks of the Orontes River. The city is in west-central Syria. It is north of the cities of Damascus and Homs. Hama is one of the four largest cities in the country. About 996,000 people lived there in 2023.

Hama is famous for its seventeen water wheels. These wheels are called norias. They may be as old as 1100 BC. Long ago, people used them to move water for farms. Today, they are symbols of the city for tourists to see.

The city has a very long history. People lived in the area during the Neolithic age. This was a very early time in human history. Later, the city was part of the Hittite Empire. It was also part of the Roman Empire.

During Roman times, archers from Hama even served in Britain.

Hama is also known for its food. It has a tradition of making cheese. People there make a special sweet dessert. It is called Halawet el Jibn.

Hama is a major city located in west-central Syria.

It sits right on the banks of the Orontes River. The city is north of Damascus and also north of Homs. Hama is the capital of the Hama Governorate. This specific area is the only part of Syria that does not touch any other countries. By the year 2023, about 996,000 people lived in the city.

This makes Hama one of the four largest cities in the whole country.

One of the most famous things about Hama is its seventeen water wheels. These large wheels are called norias. Some people believe they date all the way back to 1100 BC. In the past, farmers used these wheels to move water for irrigation. Irrigation is a way to bring water to dry land to help plants grow. Today, the norias are used only for show. They serve as a symbol of the city and a way to attract tourists.

The history of this place goes back to the very early Neolithic age. Archaeologists have found remains from the Chalcolithic period on the hill where a citadel once stood. Between 1931 and 1938, researchers named Harald Ingholt led excavations there. Around 1500 BC, the area was likely part of the Mitanni empire. Later, the Hittites took control of northern Syria around 1350 BC. Hama became an important urban center during this time. It was even mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as Hamath.

Many different groups have ruled Hama over the centuries. The Assyrian king Shalmaneser III reached the city in 853 BC. Later, the city saw many battles, such as the Battle of Qarqar. In the 19th century, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt discovered Hittite hieroglyphic script in the city. When the Romans took over in 64 BC, Hama became part of their province. Interestingly, archers from Hama were even sent to serve on Hadrian's Wall in Britain. These soldiers were part of a unit called the Cohors Prima Hamiorum Sagittaria.

Hama has also been a center for religion and food. During the Byzantine era, many churches were built in the city. Later, Muslim forces conquered the area in 638 or 639. The Great Mosque of Hama was built, sometimes using parts of older buildings. The city is also well known for its cheesemaking traditions. People there make a special local dessert called Halawet el Jibn. This sweet treat is a famous part of the local culture.

Hama is a major city located in west-central Syria.

It sits on the banks of the Orontes River. The city is situated north of Damascus and north of Homs. Hama serves as the capital of the Hama Governorate. This is the only governorate in Syria that does not share a land border with a foreign country. According to a 2023 census, the city has a population of 996,000 people. This makes Hama one of the four largest cities in Syria, alongside Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs.

One of the most iconic features of Hama is its seventeen norias. A noria is a large water wheel used to lift water. Some claims suggest these wheels date back to 1100 BC. Historically, these machines were vital for irrigation, which is the process of supplying water to land for crops. Today, the norias are no longer used for farming. They function purely as a tourist attraction and a symbol of the city's identity.

The history of the settlement, known anciently as Hamath, spans many millennia. It has been occupied from the early Neolithic period through the Iron Age. Archaeologists have conducted excavations on the mount where a former citadel once stood. Between 1931 and 1938, Harald Ingholt directed excavations of the Chalcolithic remains. These findings included the Halaf culture. By 1500 BC, the site was likely an Amorite dependency of the Mitanni empire. The Mitanni were located along the Euphrates in northeastern Syria.

During the Hittite period around 1350 BC, the Hittites took control of northern Syria. This made Hamath an important urban center. The city was involved in the famous Battle of Kadesh in 1285 BC. This battle was fought against Ancient Egypt under Ramesses II near Homs. In the early 19th century, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt discovered Hittite or Luwian hieroglyphic script at Hama. This discovery helped scholars understand the ancient writing systems of the region.

In the Iron Age, Hamath became the capital of a prosperous Syro-Hittite state. The Hebrew Bible refers to this kingdom as Hamath. The city was a major trading hub, especially with Israel and Judah. In 853 BC, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III reached the city. This event led to the first Assyrian inscriptions relating to the kingdom. During the Battle of Qarqar, a coalition led by Irhuleni of Hamath fought the Assyrians. The Assyrian forces included 4,000 chariots, 2,000 horsemen, 62,000 foot-soldiers, and 1,000 Arab camel-riders.

Assyrian dominance brought significant changes and conflict. In 743 BC, Tiglath-Pileser III took several towns in the territory. He forcibly removed 1,223 inhabitants to the Upper Tigris valley. Later, in 738 BC, more than 30,000 natives were deported to Ullaba. The Assyrian king Sargon II eventually razed the city around 720 BC. He recolonized it with 6,300 Assyrians. Sargon II also took the ivory-adorned furnishings of the kings to Nimrud. These ivories were later found by archaeologists and included panels inscribed with the name "Hamath."

The Roman period brought new connections for the city. After the Romans annexed Syria in 64 BC, Hama became part of a Roman province. Interestingly, soldiers from Hama served far away in northern Britain. A unit known as Cohors Prima Hamiorum Sagittaria was stationed at Magnis on Hadrian's Wall starting in AD 120. Other units were located at Derventio Brigantum and the Antonine Wall in Scotland. This shows how Hama was connected to the wider Roman Empire through its military.

Following the Roman era, the city saw the rise of Islamic rule. Muslim forces conquered Hama in 638 or 639.

During the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, the city's religious architecture grew. The Great Mosque of Hama was a central site, with parts of a Byzantine-era church used in its construction. The city also maintained a strong cultural identity through its food. Hama is famous for its cheesemaking traditions. A signature local dessert made from these traditions is called Halawet el Jibn.