This article is about the town in southern Syria. For the town in the UAE, see Al Qurayyah. For Qurayya ware (archaeology), see Midianite pottery.
Al-Qurayya (Arabic: القريا; also spelled al-Qrayya or Kureiyeh) is a town in southern Syria, administratively part of the al-Suwayda Governorate, located south of al-Suwayda. Nearby localities include Bosra to the southwest, Hout to the south, Salkhad to the southeast, al-Kafr, Hibran and Sahwat al-Khudr to the northeast, Sahwat Bilata and Rasas to the north and 'Ara and al-Mujaymer to the northwest. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), al-Qurayya had a population of 6,789 in the 2004 census.[1] The town is also the administrative center of the al-Qurayya nahiyah which consists of four towns with a combined population of 9,892.[1]
Western scholar Josias Leslie Porter identified al-Qurayya with biblical "Kerioth" mentioned by Jeremiah as one of the cities in the plain of Moab. The prophet Amos wrote that he would "devour the palaces of Kerioth." The city is later mentioned in the 4th-century CE as "Koreath," a village belonging to Bosra in the Roman province Arabia Petraea. However, this "Koreath" has also been identified with the nearby palace of Ein Qarata to the south of the Lejat plain.[2] On streets and alleyways throughout the village were the remains of several columns.[3] A Greek inscription was found on one of the stones and dated back to 296 CE.[2]
Ottoman periodedit
In 1596 al-Qurayya appeared in the Ottoman tax registers being part of the nahiya of Bani Nasiyya in the Qada of Hauran. It had an entirely Muslim population consisting of 65 households and 36 bachelors. Taxes were paid on wheat, barley, summer crops, fruit- or other trees.[4]
In 1810 al-Qurayya contained a few Druze families and was the chief village in the areas south and southwest of 'Ara in Jabal al-Arab. Between the 1830s and 1840s, the prominent al-Atrash clan chose the village as their principal residence.[5] It was granted to them by the initial Druze rulers of the village, the al-Hamdan clan.[6] It was still subject to raids by Bedouin nomads at that time. In April 1838, while young Druze fighters from al-Qurayya were confronting the Egyptian army of Ibrahim Pasha, the village was looted and several of its inhabitants were killed in a raid by Sheikh Ibn Sumayr and his 'Anza Bedouin tribe. Further major raids against al-Qurayya occurred in 1842 and 1846.[5]
Only in the 1850s did relative stability take root.[5] In 1852 al-Qurayya, then seat of Ismail al-Atrash, became the headquarters of Druze resistance against an Ottoman conscription decree.[7] According to Porter, who visited al-Qurayya in 1853, the village had shrunk from one of the major towns of the Hauran plain to a small village. Many of its houses were built from ancient materials. Its chief in the 1850s was Sami Faruq Pasha al-Atrash, the most powerful Druze sheikh in the Hauran.[2] In 1856-57 al-Qurayya served as the base for the Druze in their offensive against the Muslim villages of the Hauran.[7]
French Mandate periodedit
The French Mandate authorities bombed al-Qurayya and destroyed the home of its sheikh Sultan Pasha al-Atrash in a clash in 1921.[8] During the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925-27, which was spearheaded by Sultan Pasha, al-Qurayya served as the chief meeting place for the sheikhs of local rebel clans.[5]
Batatu, H. (2012). Syria's Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics. Princeton University Press. ISBN978-0691002545.
Firro, Kais (1992). A History of the Druzes. Vol. 1. BRILL. ISBN9004094377.
Hütteroth, Wolf-Dieter; Abdulfattah, Kamal (1977). Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century. Erlanger geographische Arbeiten. Vol. Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft. ISBN3-920405-41-2. from the original on 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
Porter, J.L. (1858). A Handbook for Travellers in Syria and Palestine. Vol. 1. Murray.
Shahid, I. (2002). Toponymy, Monuments, Historical Geography and Frontier Studies. Vol. 21. Dumbarton Oaks. ISBN0884022846.
External linksedit
Map of the town, Google Maps
May 03, 2024
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This article is about the town in southern Syria For the town in the UAE see Al Qurayyah For Qurayya ware archaeology see Midianite pottery Al Qurayya Arabic القريا also spelled al Qrayya or Kureiyeh is a town in southern Syria administratively part of the al Suwayda Governorate located south of al Suwayda Nearby localities include Bosra to the southwest Hout to the south Salkhad to the southeast al Kafr Hibran and Sahwat al Khudr to the northeast Sahwat Bilata and Rasas to the north and Ara and al Mujaymer to the northwest According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics CBS al Qurayya had a population of 6 789 in the 2004 census 1 The town is also the administrative center of the al Qurayya nahiyah which consists of four towns with a combined population of 9 892 1 al Qurayya القرياal QrayyaTownal QurayyaCoordinates 32 32 33 N 36 35 49 E 32 54250 N 36 59694 E 32 54250 36 59694Grid position299 217 PALCountry SyriaGovernorateas SuwaydaDistrictSalkhadSubdistrictal QurayyaPopulation 2004 census 1 Total6 789Time zoneUTC 2 EET Summer DST UTC 3 EEST Contents 1 History 1 1 Ottoman period 1 2 French Mandate period 2 Notable people 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editWestern scholar Josias Leslie Porter identified al Qurayya with biblical Kerioth mentioned by Jeremiah as one of the cities in the plain of Moab The prophet Amos wrote that he would devour the palaces of Kerioth The city is later mentioned in the 4th century CE as Koreath a village belonging to Bosra in the Roman province Arabia Petraea However this Koreath has also been identified with the nearby palace of Ein Qarata to the south of the Lejat plain 2 On streets and alleyways throughout the village were the remains of several columns 3 A Greek inscription was found on one of the stones and dated back to 296 CE 2 Ottoman period edit In 1596 al Qurayya appeared in the Ottoman tax registers being part of the nahiya of Bani Nasiyya in the Qada of Hauran It had an entirely Muslim population consisting of 65 households and 36 bachelors Taxes were paid on wheat barley summer crops fruit or other trees 4 In 1810 al Qurayya contained a few Druze families and was the chief village in the areas south and southwest of Ara in Jabal al Arab Between the 1830s and 1840s the prominent al Atrash clan chose the village as their principal residence 5 It was granted to them by the initial Druze rulers of the village the al Hamdan clan 6 It was still subject to raids by Bedouin nomads at that time In April 1838 while young Druze fighters from al Qurayya were confronting the Egyptian army of Ibrahim Pasha the village was looted and several of its inhabitants were killed in a raid by Sheikh Ibn Sumayr and his Anza Bedouin tribe Further major raids against al Qurayya occurred in 1842 and 1846 5 Only in the 1850s did relative stability take root 5 In 1852 al Qurayya then seat of Ismail al Atrash became the headquarters of Druze resistance against an Ottoman conscription decree 7 According to Porter who visited al Qurayya in 1853 the village had shrunk from one of the major towns of the Hauran plain to a small village Many of its houses were built from ancient materials Its chief in the 1850s was Sami Faruq Pasha al Atrash the most powerful Druze sheikh in the Hauran 2 In 1856 57 al Qurayya served as the base for the Druze in their offensive against the Muslim villages of the Hauran 7 French Mandate period edit The French Mandate authorities bombed al Qurayya and destroyed the home of its sheikh Sultan Pasha al Atrash in a clash in 1921 8 During the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925 27 which was spearheaded by Sultan Pasha al Qurayya served as the chief meeting place for the sheikhs of local rebel clans 5 Notable people editSultan al Atrash Mansur al AtrashReferences edit a b c General Census of Population and Housing 2004 Syria Central Bureau of Statistics CBS Al Suwayda Governorate in Arabic a b c Porter 1858 p 524 Porter 1858 p 523 Hutteroth and Abdulfattah 1977 p 219 a b c d Firro 1992 p 152 Batatu 2012 p 113 a b Firro 1992 p 188 Dana p 9 Bibliography editBatatu H 2012 Syria s Peasantry the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables and Their Politics Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0691002545 Firro Kais 1992 A History of the Druzes Vol 1 BRILL ISBN 9004094377 Hutteroth Wolf Dieter Abdulfattah Kamal 1977 Historical Geography of Palestine Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century Erlanger geographische Arbeiten Vol Sonderband 5 Erlangen Germany Vorstand der Frankischen Geographischen Gesellschaft ISBN 3 920405 41 2 Archived from the original on 2023 01 17 Retrieved 2016 07 10 Porter J L 1858 A Handbook for Travellers in Syria and Palestine Vol 1 Murray Shahid I 2002 Toponymy Monuments Historical Geography and Frontier Studies Vol 21 Dumbarton Oaks ISBN 0884022846 External links editMap of the town Google Maps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Qurayya amp oldid 1156923190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
