Hems

Hems, or Homs, a city in Syria, situated on the right bank of the Orontes 63 miles N.E. of Tripoli, is the ancient Emesa, where Aurelian defeated Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, in 272, The Saracens captured it in the 7th century, and in 1098 it fell into the hands of the Crusaders. The site of the ancient Temple of the Sun is probably that now occupied by the castle. Silk goods and gold wares are made, and a trade in oil and sesame is carried on.