Elagabalus, Aelagabalus, Heliogabalus, or simply Elagabal was an Arab-Roman sun god, initially venerated in Emesa, Syria. Although there were many variations of the name, the god was consistently referred to as Elagabalus in Roman coins and inscriptions from AD 218 on, during the reign of emperor Elagabalus.
The temple at Emesa, containing the holy stone (baetyl), on the reverse of this provincial bronze coin by Roman usurper Uranius (253–254 AD)
Homs, known in pre-Islamic Syria as Emesa, is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is 501 metres (1,644 ft) above sea level and is located 162 kilometres (101 mi) north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is also the central link between the interior cities and the Mediterranean coast.
Image: Al Shuhadaa Square Hims, Syria
Image: Khaled Ebn El Walid Mosque 3
Image: Al Baath University, Homs, Syria. 12.10.2010
Image: AL Karama stadium