A visit to Bosra’s eastern quarter brings alive the town’s magnificent history, indeed that of the country, and the many civilisations that came and went. Among its monumental buildings are an arch with characteristic Nabataean decoration; a Roman theatre as impressive as any across the empire; a 6C cathedral dedicated to St Sergius, its square plan inspired by Hagia Sophia in Constantinople; numerous 11C-13C mosques with links to the Prophet… and two huge cisterns supplying the town with water.