Road to Damascus

Many know Damscus, as the place where Paul or Saul as he was called then, was traveling when Christ appeared to him on the road, blinding and turning Saul away from his persecution of the Christians. However, the city Damascus was original founded almost 3000 years earlier and was made rich by the trade caravans that constantly traveled nearby. It was unable to stay independent and was conquered first by Assyrians then Babylonians then Persians. It did not stay in Persian hands for long as it was soon conquered by Alexander the Great as he passed through on his quest to defeat Persia. When Alexander died and his generals carved up his empire, Damascus was for a while controlled by Selucid, until the Romans conquered it. Although, the inhabitants of Damascus spoke Aramaic, the city itself became a center of learning, beauty, and culture.