The Syrian hamster is the hamster kept today as pets. Originating from the deserts of Syria, the hamster was brought to the United Kingdom and United States in 1930. Known also as the golden hamster, or the teddy bear hamster for their bear-like appearance, these rodents are stocky with wide bodies, large eyes and erect ears. They are known for their cheek pouches, which they use to store and collect food. They are solitary, nocturnal creatures who become active at night when they look for food. Those that live in regions where the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius will hibernate.
The Syrian brown bear is a smaller variety of brown bear and is found across Syria, Turkey and the Caucasus mountains of Russia and Georgia. Its coat is coarser than other varieties of brown bear but also sparser, and the color varies from straw to a gray-brown. Sometimes the bears also have a dark brown patch on their head along with a white collar. The claws of these bears are also straighter and lighter than their northern brown bear cousins. Typically, smaller varieties of this bear are found at higher altitudes, while the larger, darker-colored variety are found dwelling in the forests below.
This is the plant that some scholars claim is the plant that the Bible refers to as the nettle, according to the plant website for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Syrian acanthus is found across the eastern Mediterranean from the south of Turkey through Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan. Its name is derived from the Greek work "akantos," meaning "spine," because of the spiny appearance of the plant. Acanthus is a perennial herb that grows from 20 cm 80 cm in height and has large purple and white flowers. The design of the leaf was used by the ancient Greeks as the inspiration for the Corinthian columns.
