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The Agora of Dionysias

The arch of the lesser church

Dionysias is a titular see in Arabia, and also was the Hellenistic/Roman name of As Suwayda, now in Southern Syria, which was an ancient town south of Damascus in the Roman province of Arabia Petraea.

[edit] History

The name (Dionysias) replaced the former Nabatean name of Suada in 149 AD after that the Nabatean influence decreased and then concentrated towards the south, as a result of the accelerating Hellenization of Coele-Syria at that time. Dionysias received the rights of civitas under the reign of Commodus between 180–185.

Dionysus was worshipped in the same Nabatean temple dedicated for Dushara. This practice of associating the worship of local and Hellenic gods was common in Hellenistic Syria.

This name remained in use during the Byzantine period, when the town was under the influence of Ghassanids, Dionysias then was a Diocese as a suffragan of Bosra. It was mentioned in the Synecdemus of Hierocles.

In recent times Dionysias was firstly identified as Sweida by William Henry Waddington.

[edit] Archaeology

Many archeological remainders of Dionysias could be found in the old part of Sweida including

Temple of Dionysus-Dushara: eight well-decorated columns are still standing from the temple.

Saint Sergius Basilica: was built in the fifth century A.D. It has Byzantine architecture elements, with an abbey surrounding it. The basilica was dedicated to Saint Sergius.

The arch of the lesser church: the church itself is ruined. An arch is still standing there known locally as Al Mashnaqa with grape motif decorations.