Roman Gladiator Theatre w/15,000 Seats at Bosra & Hawk of Quraish 2 Lira Syria Authentic Coin Charm for Jewelry and Craft Making

Roman Gladiator Theatre with 15,000 Seats at Bosra & Hawk of Quraish 2 Lira Syria Authentic Coin Charm for Jewelry and Craft Making

Obverse: Coat of arms of Syria inside a 13-sided shape: hawk of Quraish with 2 stars on the shield holding a scroll with "Syrian Arab Republic" in arabic lettering. Dates (AD left and AH right) in arabic digits below.

Lettering:
الجمهورية العربية السورية
١٤١٦ ١٩٩٦
ليرتان ٢ سوريان

Translation:
Syrian Arab Republic
AD1995 - AH1416
Two 2 Syrian Lira

Reverse: The Roman Theatre at Bosra in south-western Syria, built in 2nd Century AD, inside a 13-sided shape.

Lettering:
الجمهورية العربية السورية
ليرتان ٢ سوريان

Translation:
Syrian Arab Republic
Two 2 Syrian Lira

Features
Issuer Syria
Period Arab Republic (1961-date)
Type Standard circulation coin
Year 1416 (1996)
Calendar Islamic (Hijri)
Value 2 Liras (2 SYP)
Currency Pound (1919-date)
Composition Nickel clad steel
Weight 6 g
Diameter 23 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized Yes
Number N# 2679
References KM# 125, Schön# 58

Wikipedia:
The Roman Theatre at Bosra (Arabic: المسرح الروماني ببصرى‎) is a large Roman theatre in Bosra, in the district of Dar'a in south-western Syria.

History
It was built in either the second quarter or the second half of the second century AD, and is constructed of black basalt. It is likely that the theatre was built during the reign of Trajan.

The theatre was originally built outside the walls of the town, but was later completely enclosed by an Ayyūbid fortress. The city of Bosra had its fortifications expanded between 481 and 1251. When later integrated into the fortifications, its role was to serve as a citadel and to guard a road leading to Damascus.

The theatre is 102 metres across and has seating for about 15,000 people; it is thus among the largest of the Ancient Roman civilisation. It served a city that once had 80,000 inhabitants. It is also one of the best preserved both in Syria and across the Roman empire. It was substantially restored between 1947 and 1970, before which it contained large quantities of sand, which may have helped to protect the interior.

Wikipedia on Gladiators:
A gladiator (Latin: gladiator, "swordsman", from gladius, "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their lives and their legal and social standing by appearing in the arena. Most were despised as slaves, schooled under harsh conditions, socially marginalized, and segregated even in death.

Irrespective of their origin, gladiators offered spectators an example of Rome's martial ethics and, in fighting or dying well, they could inspire admiration and popular acclaim. They were celebrated in high and low art, and their value as entertainers was commemorated in precious and commonplace objects throughout the Roman world.

The origin of gladiatorial combat is open to debate. There is evidence of it in funeral rites during the Punic Wars of the 3rd century BC, and thereafter it rapidly became an essential feature of politics and social life in the Roman world. Its popularity led to its use in ever more lavish and costly games.

The gladiator games lasted for nearly a thousand years, reaching their peak between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD. The games finally declined during the early 5th century after the adoption of Christianity as state church of the Roman Empire in 380, although beast hunts (venationes) continued into the 6th century.

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Wikipedia:
The Hawk of Quraish (Arabic: صُقُوْرُ قُرَيْشٍ‎) is a symbol which is found on a number of emblems, coats of arms and flags of several states of the Arab League. The Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula, today especially those from the Arab side of the Persian Gulf coast, are traditionally falconry experts; falcons (and hawks) are seen as status symbols and one of the Arabs' favorite animals. Also the traditions and recorded history about the Quraysh and Muhammad claim a falcon had been used as clan symbol. Therefore, several variants of the Quraishi hawk were and are seen in the flags, coat of arms, seals and emblems of several Arab states until today. In that meaning, the Hawk of Quraish is a rival to the Eagle of Saladin.