Arpad, Archaeological site in Aleppo Governorate, Syria.
Arpad, also known as Tell Rifaat, is an archaeological site in Aleppo Governorate, in northern Syria. It consists of a raised earthen mound where the remains of ancient walls and the layout of a former citadel are still visible on the surface.
Arpad served as the capital of an Aramean kingdom that held power in the region until the 8th century BC, when it was captured and destroyed by the Assyrian army after a prolonged siege. After that conquest, the city lost its political role and was gradually abandoned.
Tell Rifaat is the Arabic name used today for the mound that covers the ancient city. Walking around it, you can still make out the general outline of the old settlement and get a sense of how far the Aramean kingdom once extended across the surrounding plain.
The mound can be explored on foot and offers open views over the flat plain around it. The ground can be uneven in places, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before heading up.
Arpad is mentioned by name in ancient Assyrian texts as a stubborn opponent whose resistance lasted several years before the city finally fell. These references make it one of the few sites in the region that appears directly in written records from its own era.
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