 He speaks of the beautiful synagogue situated outside the city (Jobar) and said to have been constructed by Elisha.Under Saladin the city again enjoyed considerable importance; but upon his death the disturbances began anew, until in 1516 the city fell into the hands of the Turks, since which time it has declined to the rank of a provincial town.It seems probable that Yehuda Alharizi also visited Damascus during the first decade of the 13th century.