Ain Dara Temple — Archaeological in Near Afrin, Aleppo, Iron Age, c. 1300–740 BCE

Archaeological · Near Afrin, Aleppo

Ain Dara Temple

معبد عين دارة

36.4594° N · 36.8525° E

Historic photograph taken before the 2018 damage · Dosseman / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

“Basalt lions, sphinxes and carved footprints.”

Iron Age, c. 1300–740 BCE · Near Afrin, Aleppo
Category
Archaeological
Era
Iron Age, c. 1300–740 BCE
Location
Near Afrin, Aleppo
UNESCO
Not inscribed

Overview

On a tell near Afrin stood an Iron Age temple celebrated for carved basalt lions, sphinxes and enormous footprints cut into its threshold. Its building phases span roughly 1300–740 BCE. The site suffered major damage in 2018; historic photographs show the temple before that destruction.

Significance

A major monument of northern Syria's Iron Age religious landscape; its carvings document artistic traditions shared across the region.

Notable Features

  1. Basalt lions, sphinxes and carved footprints

Visitor Tips

  • Check current access and safety conditions locally before travelling; archaeological sites may not be open to visitors.
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