Qarqar

Archaeological Site

Qarqar in Hama Governorate is known to historians for the 9th‑century BC Battle of Qarqar; the area draws scholars and visitors interested in Iron Age Levantine conflicts and the archaeological traces of ancient settlements.

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In this guide

Qarqar essentials

Address: Qarqar area, Hama Governorate, Syria
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About Qarqar

Qarqar is a locality in Hama Governorate, Syria, identified in historical sources as the region near the site of the Battle of Qarqar. The battle, dated to 853 BCE, is one of the best-documented conflicts of the early Neo-Assyrian period.

There are limited visible monumental remains at the modern site; the primary significance of Qarqar is historical and textual, tied to Assyrian inscriptions that record the battle and the names of the combatant polities. The site is of interest mainly to historians and archaeologists studying Assyrian campaigns and Levantine polities.

In 853 BCE the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III engaged a coalition of Levantine and Mesopotamian rulers at Qarqar; the event is recorded in Assyrian annals and inscriptions that list the allies and their contributions to the coalition. The battle figure prominently in studies of early first-millennium Levantine politics.

Qarqar lies within Hama Governorate in western Syria, in the general area recorded by near-contemporary Assyrian sources as the battlefield and its environs.

  • Battle of Qarqar: The site is historically known for the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE, recorded in Assyrian inscriptions that name a broad coalition of Levantine rulers opposing Shalmaneser III.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Qarqar

If accessible and safe, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for visiting archaeological and historical landscapes in the Levant.

Spring/Autumn
March-May, September-November · 15-28°C
Comfortable temperatures if and when the area is accessible.

Weather & Climate near Qarqar

Climate

Qarqar's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 34°C. Moderate rainfall (668 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 72 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyMay
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
45°
Warmest Month
-5°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 5° - 13° 8° 136 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.2 m/s 0.3 low 9.9h
February Acceptable 6° - 15° 10° 114 mm partly cloudy 80% 2.2 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.8h
March Good 9° - 18° 14° 87 mm partly cloudy 76% 2.2 m/s 1.0 high 11.8h
April Excellent 13° - 23° 18° 49 mm partly cloudy 71% 2.3 m/s 1.5 high 13.0h
May Ideal 17° - 28° 22° 23 mm some cloud 65% 2.4 m/s 2.0 very high 13.9h
June Ideal 20° - 31° 26° 7 mm clear 60% 2.9 m/s 2.5 extreme 14.4h
July Ideal 23° - 34° 30° 1 mm clear 61% 3.0 m/s 2.5 extreme 14.1h
August Ideal 24° - 34° 32° 1 mm clear 64% 2.7 m/s 2.2 extreme 13.3h
September Excellent 21° - 33° 27° 13 mm clear 64% 1.9 m/s 1.6 very high 12.3h
October Ideal 16° - 28° 22° 39 mm mostly sunny 62% 1.6 m/s 1.0 moderate 11.2h
November Very Good 10° - 21° 15° 55 mm some cloud 67% 1.7 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.2h
December Acceptable 6° - 14° 10° 143 mm partly cloudy 77% 1.9 m/s 0.3 low 9.7h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Qarqar

Qarqar lies in Hama Governorate; access depends entirely on current security and border conditions. If and when travel is possible, the nearest urban centres are Hama and Homs, reachable by road.

Tips for Visiting Qarqar

  • The site is within an active conflict-affected region - consult current security advice and local authorities before planning any visit.
  • Much of Qarqar's landscape is agricultural today; the ancient battlefield is marked only by scholarly references and local toponyms rather than a visiting centre.
  • Read primary Assyrian texts about Shalmaneser III's campaign of 853 BCE to appreciate the historical resonance before visiting.