Kharayeb
Kharayeb (Arabic: الخرايب, romanized: al-Kharāyab) is a historic town in the Sidon District in the South Governorate, Lebanon. The town is 77 km (48 mi) south of Beirut. It is at an altitude of 190 m (620 ft) above sea level. The town has a long history. Archaeological excavations show a complex settlement history spanning from Prehistory to the Ottoman period. Notably, Kharayeb's origins can be traced back to the Persian period (539–330 BC). At that time, it had it had an important role. Its Phoenician temple a was constructed round the 6th century BC.
Kharayeb
الخرايب | |
|---|---|
  Kharayeb | |
| Coordinates: 33°20′40″N 35°17′58″E / 33.34444°N 35.29944°E | |
| Governorate | South Governorate |
| District | Sidon District |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.44 km2 (2.49 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 190 m (620 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Area code | 07 |
There were around 9,000 residents in 2006 and the population is predominantly Shia.[1]
History
changeArchaeological excavation in Kharayeb and its vicinity has revealed a complex settlement landscape spanning various chronological periods, from the Prehistoric to the Ottoman era (1516–1918). The Kharayeb region had been inhabited since the Middle Paleolithic. Many flint tools from that perioud have been found.[2] The earliest signs of agricultural use in historical periods comes from the site of Jemjim near Kharayeb. A stele from the Late Iron Age was discovered there.[3] A settlement with a system of cisterns dating to the Iron Age, and remains of terracotta vessels indicating occupation dating back to the second millennium BC have also been found.[2]
During the Persian period (539–330 BC), Phoenicia flourished economically. The population in the cities on the coast grew. These populations needed to be sustained; this meant that resources needed to be used in better ways in their respective territories.[4] The Persian policy aimed at promoting intensive agriculture within irrigated areas further supported this development. The subsistence of Tyre was ensured by the establishment of ancient rural agricultural centers, extending from the coast to southern Palestine. These rural areas, especially those situated near rivers, played a important role in Tyre's economy; a number of planned settlements were built.[5][4][6][7] This is the context that allowed the town of Kharayeb to grow. The construction of its Phoenician temple was begun around the 6th century BC.[5][2]
The modern town of Kharayeb dates back to the mid-19th century when it and its surroundings were owned by Nasif Al-Asaad, a resident of Zrarieh.
Geography
changeKharayeb is in the Sidon District of the South Governorate. It is 77 km (48 mi) south of the capital Beirut, north of the Leontes River. It spans an area of 6.44 square kilometres (2.49 sq mi) and stands at an average altitude of 190 m (620 ft) above sea level.[8] It is bordered to the north by the towns of Adloun and Kouthariyet Al-Riz. To the east, it is bordered by the towns of Arzai and Zrarieh, while the Leontes traces its southern boundary. The Mediterranean Sea lies to its west.[1]
Cultural landmarks
changeThe town is famed for its Phoenician temple, and many votive terracotta figurines, that helped shed light on the cultural and religious practices of the local Phoenician rural population during the Late Iron Age, Persian, and Hellenistic periods.[2]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pascal, Moawad Bou Maroun (2006). "Al Kharayeb - The Neighbor of the sea, encircled by lemon blossoms". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Oggiano, Ida; Khalil, Wissam (2020). "Le sanctuaire phénicien de Kharayeb dans l'arrière-pays de Tyr" [The Phoenician sanctuary of Kharayeb in the hinterland of Tyre]. La Revue Phénicienne (in French) (Centennial edition). Beirut: 201.
- ↑ Gubel, Eric (2002). Caubert, Annie; Fontan, Elisabeth; Musée du Louvre Département des antiquités orientales (eds.). Art phénicien: la sculpture de tradition phénicienne [Phoenician art: sculpture in the Phoenician tradition] (in French). Paris: Réunion des musées nationaux. p. 115. ISBN 978-90-5349-416-5. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Elayi, Josette (1980). "The Phoenician Cities in the Persian Period". Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society. 12 (1): 16. Archived from the original on 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Oggiano, Ida (2013). Aliquot, Julien; Bonnet, Corinne (eds.). "Le sanctuaire de Kharayeb et l'évolution de l'imagerie phénicienne dans l'arrière-pays de Tyr" [The Kharayeb sanctuary and the evolution of Phoenician imagery in the Tyre hinterland]. Topoi (in French) (Supplément 13 La Phénicie hellénistique - Actes du colloque international de Toulouse): 241–242. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ↑ Elayi, Josette (2018). The History of Phoenicia. ISD LLC. pp. 227–230. ISBN 978-1-937040-82-6. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ↑ Jigoulov, Vadim S. (2010). The Social History of Achaemenid Phoenicia: Being a Phoenician, Negotiating Empires. Equinox Pub. Limited. pp. 131, 163. ISBN 978-1-84553-331-1. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ↑ Localiban (5 July 2007). "Kharayeb (Saida)". Localiban, Administrative Divisions of Lebanon. Data Center on Local Development in Lebanon. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.