Androna
Archaeological site in Aleppo Governorate, Syria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Androna, also known as al-Andarin (Arabic: الأندرين), is a Byzantine site spread over a vast area at the edges of the semi-desert, about 25 kilometers beyond the more well-known Byzantine site of Qasr Ibn Wardan.[2]
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Arabic: الأندرين | |
Remains of a large church from west of Androna | |
  Androna Shown within Syria | |
| Alternative name | Al-Andarin |
|---|---|
| Location | Syria |
| Region | Aleppo Governorate |
| Coordinates | 35.533248°N 37.360827°E |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1905 – ongoing |
| Archaeologists | H.C. Butler (1905) R. Mouterde, A. Poidebard (1930) Marges Arides Syrian Department of Antiquities director Dr. R. Ugdeh University of Heidelberg director Prof. C. Strube University of Oxford director Dr. Marlia Mango[1] |
History
Androna was built as a defense line against nomadic skirmishes in the Syrian Desert. The fortified city contains at least ten churches, a large military building and public baths;[3] and was famous for its vineyards and high-quality wine in which it was mentioned by Amr ibn Kulthum in his ode.[4]
The following is the opening verse of his ode:
أَلاَ هُبِّي بِصَحْنِكِ فَاصْبَحِيْنَـا وَلاَ تُبْقِي خُمُـوْرَ الأَنْدَرِيْنَـا
Ha girl! Up with the bowl! Give us our dawn draught
And do not spare the wines of al-Andarina
