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Description
Two smiling lions guard against evil and any possible enemy in the third and final defensive gate to the Citadel of Aleppo.

This massive citadel in Syria is probably the most well thought out defensive structure I have ever seen, most of what we see today was build during the times of Nur al Din Zangi (the Saint King) and Al-Zahir al-Ghazi (the son of Saladin).

In 1183, Aleppo was captured by the Legendary Ayyubid ruler Saladin (Salah al deen), Who installed first his brother, al Adil, Then his son, Al-Malik Ghazi, as regents. Ghazi's Decendents ruled the city until 1260 and were to have a lasting influence there. Ghazi had Aleppo refortified, a large project, much of which had to be completed by his ancestors. The focus of his work on the defenses Citadel, which he had strengthened into one of the most powerful fortresses in the medieval Islamic world.

The three huge ayyubid gateways to the citadel are decorated with figurative reliefs to which were attributed the power to ward off misfortune. the archivolt over the first gateway shows two double headed dragons with gaping jaws and entwined serpent bodies.

Extract taken from the book"Islam: art and Architecture" by Markus Hattstein and Peter Delius.

The only enemy who was able to take it where the Mongols in 1260, apparently after six months of seige, the Mongol leader grew tired and started to slaughter the local population that surrounded the city, severed heads where piled so high that they formed mounds in front of the citadel, only then did the Aleppans surrender.

Description
Two smiling lions guard against evil and any possible enemy in the third and final defensive gate to the Citadel of Aleppo.

This massive citadel in Syria is probably the most well thought out defensive structure I have ever seen, most of what we see today was build during the times of Nur al Din Zangi (the Saint King) and Al-Zahir al-Ghazi (the son of Saladin).

In 1183, Aleppo was captured by the Legendary Ayyubid ruler Saladin (Salah al deen), Who installed first his brother, al Adil, Then his son, Al-Malik Ghazi, as regents. Ghazi's Decendents ruled the city until 1260 and were to have a lasting influence there. Ghazi had Aleppo refortified, a large project, much of which had to be completed by his ancestors. The focus of his work on the defenses Citadel, which he had strengthened into one of the most powerful fortresses in the medieval Islamic world.

The three huge ayyubid gateways to the citadel are decorated with figurative reliefs to which were attributed the power to ward off misfortune. the archivolt over the first gateway shows two double headed dragons with gaping jaws and entwined serpent bodies.

Extract taken from the book"Islam: art and Architecture" by Markus Hattstein and Peter Delius.

The only enemy who was able to take it where the Mongols in 1260, apparently after six months of seige, the Mongol leader grew tired and started to slaughter the local population that surrounded the city, severed heads where piled so high that they formed mounds in front of the citadel, only then did the Aleppans surrender.