As Suwayda

As-Suwayda' (Arabic: السويداء‎ / ALA-LC: as-Suwaydā’), also spelt Sweida, is a mainly Druze city located in southwestern Syria, close to the border with Jordan. It is the capital of Muhafazat as-Suwayda', one of Syria's 14 governorates, bordering Jordan in the South and the governorates of Daraa in the West and Rif Dimashq in the North and East. The inhabitants of the city are mainly Druze with a prominent Greek orthodox minority, The population of the city is estimated at 63,324 (2008). The city was founded by the Nabataeans as Suada. It became known as Dionysias (Greek: Διονύσιας) in the Hellenistic and Roman times, for Dionysus the god of wine - the city is situated in a famous ancient wine-producing region. The name Dionysias...