A Roman monumental building in south-east Damascus?

Archaeological excavations in south-east Damascus uncovered walls of a monumental building, likely dating to the Roman period. The discovery, made during the renovation of an Ottoman house into a hotel between 2004 and 2011, sheds light on the poorly understood topography of this part of ancient Damascus. The walls, notable for their size and orientation to the Roman grid, raise questions about their possible function and date. While the authors suggest they could be part of a gymnasium constructed by Herod the Great, further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Macaulay-Lewis, E., & Burns, R. (2015). A Roman monumental building in south-east Damascus? Levant, 47(1), 93–111. https://doi.org/10.1179/0075891415z.00000000058