According to reports Membiji was the location of Heliopolis/Shabtuna the last named location out of three according to the records of Ramses II. These three named locations unerringly underscore that the Kadesh of the annals of Ramses was Carchemish and that is where he encountered the Hittite forces.

In the records of Shalmaneser III the river Sagur/var. Sadjur(?) is mentioned. In Ina-Ahur-utir-asbar, which the people of Hattina call Pitru, on the other side of the Euphrates, on the river Sagur, I received tribute from the kings of the other side of the river - that is, of Sangara from Carchemish, Kundashpi from Commagene, of Arame, man of Gusi, of Lalli from Melitene (Melid), of Haiani, son of Gabari, of Kalparuda from Hattina, (and) of Kalparuda of Gurgum - (consisting of): silver, gold, tin, copper (or bronze), copper containers." [Pritchard, ARA, p. 190.]

A full page color image of the imposing citadel of Aleppo can be seen in Nat. Geographic's, `The Adventure of Archaeology', 1985, p. 60.