The Significance of the Palaestra at Hellenistic Jebel Khalid on the Euphrates in North Syria

Abstract

When the early-third century BCE planners of Jebel Khalid were making provisions in the lay-out of the new settlement for public facilities, they located a site for a palaestra (a type of gymnasium) in a central position (‘Area C’), just to the south of the market area (‘Area S’) and to the north of the Temple sanctuary (‘Area B’) but on a direct alignment with it. This public facility was designed to serve a number of functions