The citadel was built on top of an ancient tell southwest of the Old City, with remains dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE.

Julia Domna, daughter of the high-priest Julius Bassianus, has contributed to improve the city of Emesa and its citadel during the Roman Syria era.

At that time, the citadel was able to contain accommodation, warehouses and administrative buildings surrounded by semi-circular walls.

However, today the Citadel is in ruinous state as a result of massive demolition started by the Egyptian army of Ibrâhîm Pasha in the 1830s.

The Citadel was only abandoned for military purposes in the late 1980s when it passed to the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.