Halabiye

Halabiye
حلبيّة
Aerial photo of Halabiye with the Euphrates visible in the lower part of the image
Halabiye is located in Syria
Halabiye
Shown within Syria
Alternative nameLatin/Greek: Zenobia, Birtha
Location Syria
RegionDeir ez-Zor Governorate
Coordinates35°41′22″N 39°49′21″E / 35.689444°N 39.8225°E / 35.689444; 39.8225
TypeFortified town
Area12 hectares (30 acres)
History
Founded3rd century AD
PeriodsRoman, Byzantine, Ayyubid?
Site notes
Excavation dates1944, 1945, 1987, 2006–2009
ArchaeologistsJ. Lauffray, S. Blétry
ConditionRuinous
ManagementDirectorate-General of Antiquities and Museums
Public accessYes

Halabiye (Arabic: حلبيّة, Latin/Greek: Zenobia, Birtha) is an archaeological site on the right bank of the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. It was an ancient city and former bishopric known as Zenobia and a Latin Catholic titular see.

Halabiye was fortified in the 3rd century CE by Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, after whom the site was named in Antiquity. After her revolt against the Roman Empire in 273, Halabiye was captured by the Romans and subsequently refortified as part of the Limes Arabicus, a defensive frontier of Roman Syria to protect the region mainly from Persia. The site occupies an area of 12 hectares (30 acres), protected by massive city walls and a citadel on top of a hill. Remains of two churches, a public bath complex and two streets have been excavated. These all date to the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, who refortified the city in the 6th century AD.