The city of "Philip The Arab" the Syrian emperor of Rome with its mosaics, thermal baths and amphitheatre. The architectural style adopted at Shahba was not found elsewhere. Its square shape and the remains of its Roman walls give it a much more ‘imperial' feel than other towns in the area. The Italian origions of many of the concepts and techniques is revealed in the lavish scale of the baths, the use of barrel vaulting and concrete domes and the extensive use of marble cladding on interior walls. Visiting Shahba includes visiting its temple, theatre, baths and most importantly the museum of mosaic.