was one of the nabatean royal cities
Bostra, as the old name was, was the capital of roman Arabia province since AD 106. This province extended over the former southern and northern Nabataean kingdoms with Petra and Bostra as capitals from the Gulf of Aquaba to the mountains of Jebel el Druz in the area of Batanaea to the northern Trachonitis (barren area of volcanic streams) with clefts and caves south of Damascus. Later, the provinces were separated in Arabia and Palaestina Salutaris (Palaestina III).
Bosra is located at the foothills of the Jebel el Druz, with his further Names Hauran or Mons Alsadamus. The City has many ancient evidences within the old city center. Not only the restored theater, but also huge water reservoirs and antique shopping streets testify to the former wealth. Bostra was supplied by its own smaller aqueducts. In the north of the old City area lying the only dimly visible remains of the roman Legion fort of the Legio III Cyrenaica.
On the horizon behind the theater one recognizes one of the highest elevations of the Jebel el Druz the Tell el kleb.
Bostra became the archbishopric of the Arabia church region, whose circumference was from the north end of the Dead Sea in the south to the northern end of trachonitis in the north.