HOMS or RIMS, a city of Syria, situated in the great Orontes plain, on a canal about 1 m. from the river ; pop. esti mated at 50,000 (35,o00 Muslims). The neighbourhood is ex ceptionally fertile, and the climate good. The gardens and orchards of Homs have always been famed for their yield. Silk is the chief industry.
Through Horns passed the road along which was borne the traffic of Egypt, Palestine, and Damascus bound for the northern lands, and its plain was the battleground of warring empires. At Kadesh (now identified with Tell Nebi Mend, near Horns) Rameses II. fought the great indecisive battle against the Hittites. Known as Emesa in classical times it was devoted to the worship of the Sun god. Heliogabalus was born here and became a priest in its temple. On his elevation to the imperial throne (A.D. 218) he showed favour to the city, and rebuilt its temple. It was there that Aurelian quelled the rebellion led by Zenobia (A.D. 272) ; and Caracalla made it into a Roman colony. In 635 Homs concluded a treaty with the Arabs, and peace and security were bought for a sum of money. The arrangement did not endure, and in 638 it fell to Abu `Ubaida. It rebelled in the reign of Merwan II., who lashed it with shot from 8o catapults for five months, reduced it and dismantled its walls (745). The subsequent centuries saw its subordination to Aleppo, Damascus and Hama. It passed under Egyptian rule (1831-4o), and was moved to a revolt which was with difficulty suppressed.
The mausoleum of the famous Muslim general, Khalid ibn el-Welid, is in one of its mosques. (E. Ro.)
