Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Sweida, SANA- With a history extending to 1,500 years, an ancient reservoir in Qanawat town to the east of Sweida city stands as an archeological landmark distinguished with its walls made skillfully of the basalt and pottery and includes 18 consecutive arches.
Archeologist Hasan Hatoum said that the reservoir is located in the ancient Qanawat city “Kanatha” and in the height part of it which is named Acropolis and near the temple of Zeus, the God of heavens for ancient Greeks.
The reservoir is rectangular building with dimensions of 17 by 14.5 meters and a depth of 7 meters as it is divided into 7 colonnades through 6 rows of stone pillars made of rectangular basalt topped by arches.
Hatoum noted that huge stones were used to construct this building and in its southeast corner, there are cylindrical hollow stones used to drain water inside it, pointing out to the existence of a channel built of basalt connected to it and still exists so far in the northeastern corner.
The archeological reservoir, which dates back to the beginnings of 4th century AD, was used to supply the ancient city with water and store water in the years of drought according to Hatoum .
The reservoir, which is located to the southwestern of the well-known archeological Serail (al- Saray), is still in a good condition, and its roof consisting of carved basalt flagstones “ Rabdat” bears eight strong stone arches that are adjacent to form successive arches.The water was coming to the reservoir from the south through a valley in the neighboring village of Se’i, and from there it was taken to the bathhouses.
Hybah Sleman /GH. A.Hassoun
