Umm Qais: Gateway to Jordan, Syria, and Palestine-Israel

 

Umm Qais-Gedara
Don Michael Hudson, PhD

This shot is a thirty-year dream. We are standing in Jordan shooting west toward the Sea of Galilee in Palestine-Israel. You can see the West Bank and the Mt. Transfiguration (not in this shot, but they are just to the left). You can also see beautiful Syria to the right. This is the place where 4 nation-states’ borders join. The air quality has been poor this trip–I think–because of all the sandstorms north and east of Jordan along with the usual smog. This is near the spot–Gedara–where the gospels tell us that Jesus cast the demons into swine, and they ran headlong over the cliff(s).

Ugarit (Ras Shamra) Jan 2017

Beautifully crafted stone work from Ugarit (Ras Shamra), Syria. Middle to Late Bronze. This great city was destroyed sometime around 1200 BCE. We still don’t know who sacked the city. Best guess is the “Greeks” on the move during this turbulent time in the Mediterranean. Almost nothing in the Southern Levant even comes close to this kind of stonework at that period of time.
Ugarit (Jan 2017)
Marilyn Borst, Nuhad Tomeh, and Salam Hanna made it possible for us to visit a site I never thought I would visit in my lifetime. Thank you.
Ugarit (Ras Shamra)
Jan 2017
Don Michael Hudson, PhD
Ugarit (Ras Shamra)
Jan 2017
Don Michael Hudson, PhD
Ugarit (Ras Shamra)
Jan 2017
Don Michael Hudson, PhD

Syrian Widow Seeking Refuge in Zadieh, Syria

Syrian Widow Seeks Refuge in Zadieh, Syria
Don Michael Hudson, PhD
Syrian widow seeking refuge in the Presbyterian Church in Zadieh, Syria (Jan 2017)
This small and beautiful church in the mountains east of Tartous was taking in as many refugees as it could and providing them sanctuary. The pastor died a few months after our departure from a heart attack. Obviously, we can see the trauma on her face and in her eyes.