The Great Mosque of Hims, or Great Mosque of al-Nuri, is situated in the center of town, near markets and the remains of the old city wall. It is located on the site of a pagan sun temple dating to Roman times, and a later 12th-century church dedicated to St. John. It is believed that much of the modern structure can be attributed to Nur ad-Din (r. 1146-1174/540-569 AH).