This grand Roman gate was named Bab Sharqi, meaning the “East Gate”, due to its location on the eastern side of the Old City.

Dedicated to the Sun, it is one of the seven Roman gates of Damascus Old City.

Bab Sharqi was built in the early 3rd century, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, as the only gate on the Old City Wall with three passages.

The Arab leader Khaled Bin Al-Waleed, leading tribes from the Arabian Peninsula, entered Damascus peacefully in the 7th century through this gate. His historic entrance to Damascus paved the way for the establishment of the Umayyad Empire and the spread of Islam throughout the world.

Saint Paul the Apostle had also entered Damascus through this gate few centuries earlier. Similarly, his historic entrance to Damascus and subsequent conversion had also paved the way for the spread of Christianity throughout the world.