Submitted by scott on
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Al Kiswah is about one half mile from Tal Kawkab, the location of the Abbey of St. Paul the Messenger. Ian Strathcarron identifies this location as the site of Saul's conversion to Christianity.


Ian Strathcarron, in Innocence and War, relates his experience in trying to locate this spot. It's rather surprising that it is not known as a tourist location. "In case anyone is interested in finding it I shall give it the spelling in the only English sign for it: "Kawkab". Samir asks for "Tal Kawkab". (In ten years driving foreigners around Samir has never been asked to go there before.) It is signposted in the town of Al Kiswah, some nine miles south-west of Damascus, and is half a mile to the east of that. " They follow the sign from Al Kiswah and find a church about forty (40) years old, the Abbey of St. Paul the Messenger.


Bædeker:  12 1/2 M. El-Kisweh (Kessoué). The station is about 1 1/2 M. from the considerable village on the Nahr el-A'waj. On the left appears the barren range of the Jebel el-Mûní, on the highest summit of which (3640 ft.) lie the ruins of the ancient castle Kal'at en-Nuhâs.

See Bædeker, 1876 Route 23: The Haurán, page 405.


Murray, page 536, may be referring to this location as:

Kesweh, a Muslem village of some 500 Inhab., is 3/4 h. from Khân Denûn, and 4 3/4 h. from Sunamein. It is beautifully situated on the l. bank of the river ’Awaj, the ancient Pharpar, here spanned by a substantial bridge.  The glen through which the river winds is deep and tortuous, filled with thickets of poplars and willows, and bordered by green meadows and cornfields. The stream is still deep and rapid, about 1/3 the size of the Barada, though two large canals are taken from it higher up—one to convey a contribution to the plain of Damascus, and the other to irrigate the plateau of Khiyârah, where it may be seen flowing eastward past Khân Denûn.  On leaving Kesweh we have a pleasing view to the rt. down the rich vale of the ‘Awaj. In 1/2 h. we cross the low ridge of Jebel el-Aswad, “the black hills,” and then the great plain of Damascus bursts upon our view, with the old city itself rising bright and beautiful from the midst of its forest gardens. A 2 h. ride now brings us to the “Gate of God.”’



 

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