Abstract
This paper examines Ephrem the Syrian’s reimagining of space and salvation in the context of the siege of Nisibis in 363 CE. Focusing on the Nisibene Hymns, it explores how Ephrem portrays Nisibis as a paradoxical space—both a site of suffering and a gateway to paradise. Employing Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia and Gaston Bachelard’s phenomenology of space, this study demonstrates how Ephrem reconfigures the perception of confinement and liberation. By likening Nisibis to Noah’s Ark, he transforms its besieged walls into thresholds of divine favor, where enclosure signifies protection rather than captivity. The analysis reveals how Ephrem’s theological vision frames suffering as a means of spiritual ascent, aligning the fate of his city with the eschatological promise of paradise. Through poetic imagery and biblical typology, Ephrem invites his audience to see themselves as truly free, while casting their oppressors as those spiritually imprisoned.