Harran al-Awamid
Harran al-'Awamid حران العواميد | |
---|---|
![]() The basaltic Roman-era columns from which Harran al-Awamid receives its name, 1903 | |
33°26′50″N 36°33′33″E / 33.44722°N 36.55917°E / 33.44722; 36.55917 | |
Country | ![]() |
Governorate | Rif Dimashq |
District | Douma |
Subdistrict | Harran al-Awamid |
Population (2004)[1] | |
• Total | 12,117 |
Time zone | UTC+3 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (EEST) |
Harran al-'Awamid (Arabic: حران العواميد) is a town in southern Syria, administratively part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate, located southeast of Damascus. It is situated on a plain that stretches to the marshes of Bahrat al-Qibliyah ("South Lake," the source of the Barada River) along the boundary of the fertile Ghouta region to the west, to the north of the Hauran.[2] Nearby localities include al-Kafrayn and Judaydat al-Khas to the south, al-Atibeh to the northeast, al-Abadah and al-Qisa to the north, al-Ahmadiyah to the northwest, Sakka to the west and Ghasulah and al-Ghizlaniyah to the southwest.
According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Harran al-'Awamid had a population of 12,117 in the 2004 census. It is the administrative center and the most populous locality of the Harran al-'Awamid nahiyah ("subdistrict") which consisted of four localities with a collective population of 22,853 in 2004.[1] The town was well known for its mudbrick architecture and three basalt columns of an ancient Roman temple, hence the name Harran al-'Awamid ("Harran of the Columns.") The columns themselves shoot out of the roof of a mudbrick building, which, along with many of the town's houses, have occupied the ruins of the temple.[2][3]
History
Under Ottoman rule in the late 19th century, Harran al-Awamid was visited by archaeologist William McLure Thomson, who asserted that it was the Haran mentioned in the Bible. He noted that the plantation of Bahrat al-Qibliyah could be seen from the roof of the village's mosque. The area was inhabited by Bedouins (nomads) and semi-nomadic Arabs.[4]
Roman temple
Because the ruins of the Roman temple, which likely dates to the reign of Emperor Philip the Arab (244-49 CE), have become entangled with Harran al-Awamid's mudbrick houses, the plan of the temple could not be ascertained. However, it has been determined that the structure was built on a high podium as indicated by the columns' elevation and location which also suggests that they marked the temple's northwestern corner.[5] The columns have a height of roughly twelve feet and a width of six feet.[6] They are constructed in the Ionic style from black basalt stone with ornately carved capitals,[5] although one of the column's capitals had fallen off. The columns consisted of either six or seven parts that are cracked and worn out.[6] The style of the capitals is similar to that of the columns of ancient Roman temples in the Hauran region, being based upon the acanthus. However, those at Harran al-Awamid were "more boldly drawn and are wrought in more massive style, a little coarser, perhaps..."[5]
References
- ^ a b General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate. (in Arabic)
- ^ a b Saliou, Catherine (1998). "Une Épitaphe De Harran El 'Awamid" (PDF). Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (in French) (122): 102–104.
- ^ Butler, 1903, p. 398.
- ^ Thomson, pp. 414-415.
- ^ a b c Butler, 1998, p. 399.
- ^ a b Thompson, p. 416.
Bibliography
- Butler, H.C. (1903). Architecture and other arts. Vol. 2. The Century Co.
- Thomson, W.M. (1886). The land and the Book: or, Biblical illustrations drawn from the manners and customs, the scenes and scenery, of the Holy Land, by William M. Thomson. Harper.
- v
- t
- e
![Flag of Syria](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Syria_districts.png/100px-Syria_districts.png)
- Abu Kamal
- Afrin
- Arihah
- Atarib
- Ayn al-Arab
- Azaz
- al-Bab
- Baniyas
- Darayya
- Dayr Hafir
- Douma
- Duraykish
- Fiq
- al-Haffah
- Harem
- Izra'
- Jableh
- Jarabulus
- Jisr ash-Shughur
- Maarat al-Numaan
- al-Malikiyah
- Manbij
- Masyaf
- Mayadin
- Mhardeh
- al-Mukharram al-Foqani
- an-Nabk
- Palmyra
- Qamishli
- Qardaha
- Qatana
- Qudsaya
- al-Qusayr
- al-Qutayfah
- Ra's al-'Ayn
- al-Rastan
- as-Safira
- Safita
- Salamiyah
- Salkhad
- al-Sanamayn
- Shahba
- ash-Shaykh Badr
- al-Suqaylabiyah
- Talkalakh
- al-Tall
- Tell Abyad
- al-Thawrah
- Yabroud
- Zabadani
- Abu Qilqil
- Abu al-Thuhur
- Akhtarin
- Amuda
- Arbeen
- Arima
- al-Ariqah
- al-Arishah
- Armanaz
- Arwad
- al-Asharah
- Assal al-Ward
- Awj
- Ayn al-Fijah
- Ayn Halaqim
- Ayn Issa
- Ayn al-Nasr
- Babbila
- Banan
- Barri Sharqi
- Beit Jinn
- Binnish
- Bir al-Helou
- Bosra
- Bulbul
- Busayrah
- Da'el
- al-Dana
- Darat Izza
- Darkush
- al-Darbasiyah
- Deir Atiyah
- al-Dimas
- al-Dumayr
- Furqlus
- Ghabaghib
- Ghandoura
- al-Ghariyah
- al-Ghizlaniyah
- al-Hader
- Hadidah
- al-Hajar al-Aswad
- al-Hajib
- Hajin
- al-Hamidiyah
- al-Hamraa
- Harasta
- Harbnafsah
- Harran al-Awamid
- al-Hirak
- Hish
- Hisyah
- al-Hawl
- Huraytan
- al-Huwash
- Ibbin Samaan
- Ihsim
- Jayrud
- al-Jalaa
- al-Janudiyah
- Jaramana
- al-Jarniyah
- Jasim
- al-Jawadiyah
- Jubb al-Jarrah
- Jubb Ramlah
- Jindires
- al-Jiza
- al-Qabu
- Kafr Batna
- Kafr Nabl
- Kafr Takharim
- Kafr Zita
- al-Karamah
- al-Kasrah
- Kessab
- al-Khafsah
- Khan Shaykhun
- Khasham
- Kirnaz
- Kuwayris Sharqi
- Khanaser
- Khirbet Ghazaleh
- Khirbet al-Tin Mahmoud
- al-Kiswah
- Ma'arrat Misrin
- Maabatli
- Maadan
- Maaloula
- Madaya
- Mahin
- Malah
- al-Malihah
- al-Mansurah
- Mare'
- Markada
- Mashta al-Helu
- Maskanah
- al-Masmiyah
- al-Mazraa
- Muhambal
- Muhasan
- al-Musayfirah
- al-Mushannaf
- Muzayrib
- al-Nashabiyah
- al-Nasirah
- Nawa
- Nubl
- al-Qadmus
- al-Qahtaniyah
- Qalaat al-Madiq
- Qarah
- al-Qaryatayn
- al-Qurayya
- Qurqania
- Rajo
- Rankus
- Rasm Harmil al-Imam
- al-Rai
- al-Riqama
- al-Ruhaybah
- al-Saan
- Saasaa
- Sabburah
- al-Sabe' Biyar
- al-Sabkhah
- Sadad
- Sahnaya
- Saidnaya
- Salqin
- Saraqib
- Sarmin
- Sarrin
- Sawran
- Sebei
- al-Shaddadah
- al-Shajara
- Shaqqa
- Sharran
- Shathah
- Shaykh al-Hadid
- al-Shaykh Maskin
- Shayukh Tahtani
- Shin
- Sinjar
- Sirghaya
- Slinfah
- Suluk
- al-Surah al-Saghirah
- al-Suwar
- Suran
- al-Susah
- al-Sukhnah
- al-Tabni
- Talbiseh
- Taldou
- al-Tamanah
- Tasil
- Tell al-Daman
- Tell Hamis
- Tell Rifaat
- Tell Salhab
- Tell Tamer
- Tedef
- Thiban
- Uqayribat
- Urum al-Kubra
- Wadi al-Oyun
- al-Yaarubiyah
- al-Zirbah
- az-Ziyarah