Harran (Arabic: حران) is a village in the as-Suwayda Governorate in southwestern Syria. It is situated in the southern Lajah plateau, northwest of the city of as-Suwayda. Harran had a population of 1,523 in the 2004 census.[1]
During the early Byzantine era, Harran's Arabic-speaking inhabitants were pagans, but by the late 6th century, the population had become Christian. A bilingual Greek and Arabic inscription found in the village is among the earliest known appearances of written Arabic in Syria. In the early Ottoman era (16th century), Harran was a grain-producing Muslim hamlet. It was later abandoned, and then in the mid-19th century it was settled by Druze, who still inhabit the village.
Harran was inhabited during the Byzantine era in Syria, as attested by an inscription found in the village dedicated to the goddess Athena dating from 212 to 375 CE.[2] A public hostel was built by four of the village's administrators in 397/98.[2] It is unlikely that a majority of the Arabic-speaking inhabitants of Harran were Christians at that time.[2]
By the late 6th century, Harran's inhabitants were Christians and the village was part of the Ghassanid tribal kingdom, a vassal of the Byzantines. A bilingual Arabic and Greek inscription was found in Harran dating from 568/69 CE.[3] The inscription describes a martyrium built by an Arabphylarch (equivalent to sheikh, chieftain) named Sharahil ibn Zalim.[3] Sharahil may have been associated with the Ghassanids, since his name is not found in records mentioning the tribe.[3]
The inscription of Harran, along with two other Arabic inscriptions found in Zabad near Aleppo and Jabal Usays mountain east of Damascus depict the earliest known appearance of Arabic in Syria.[4] The development of written Arabic in Syria at this time was likely to facilitate the spread of Christianity among Arab tribesmen living in the region's desert fringes.[4] The Harran inscription read:
I, Sharahil, son of Zalim, have built this martyrium in the year 463 (568 CE).[3]
Ottoman eraedit
In 1596 Harran appeared in the Ottomantax registers as part of the nahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Abdullah in the Sanjak Hauran. It had an entirely Muslim population consisting of four households. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 40% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; the taxes totaled 3,350 akçe.[5]
In 1838, Harran was noted as a ruin, situated "in the Lejah itself".[6]
Harran was among five villages in the heart of the Lajah plateau that was settled by Druze by 1862; the villages were settled sometime between the early 19th century and 1862.[7]
Firro, Kais (1992). A History of the Druzes. Vol. 1. BRILL. ISBN9004094377.
Fowden, Elizabeth Key (1999). The Barbarian Plain: Saint Sergius between Rome and Iran. University of California Press. ISBN9780520922204.
Hütteroth, Wolf-Dieter; Abdulfattah, Kamal (1977). Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century. Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft. ISBN3-920405-41-2.
Robin, Christian Julien (2012). "Arabia and Ethiopia". The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-999633-9.
Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
Trombley, Frank R. (1995). Hellenic Religion and Christianization: C. 370–529. Brill. ISBN9004096914.
External linksedit
Map of the town, Google Maps
Ezra-map, 20m
December 16, 2023
harran, suwayda, harran, arabic, حران, village, suwayda, governorate, southwestern, syria, situated, southern, lajah, plateau, northwest, city, suwayda, harran, population, 2004, census, harran, حرانvillageharranlocation, syriacoordinates, 88667, 38361, 88667,. Harran Arabic حران is a village in the as Suwayda Governorate in southwestern Syria It is situated in the southern Lajah plateau northwest of the city of as Suwayda Harran had a population of 1 523 in the 2004 census 1 Harran حرانVillageHarranLocation in SyriaCoordinates 32 53 12 N 36 23 1 E 32 88667 N 36 38361 E 32 88667 36 38361Grid position279 255Country SyriaGovernorateas SuwaydaDistrictShahbaSubdistrictAriqahPopulation 2004 1 Total1 523Time zoneUTC 2 EET Summer DST UTC 3 EEST During the early Byzantine era Harran s Arabic speaking inhabitants were pagans but by the late 6th century the population had become Christian A bilingual Greek and Arabic inscription found in the village is among the earliest known appearances of written Arabic in Syria In the early Ottoman era 16th century Harran was a grain producing Muslim hamlet It was later abandoned and then in the mid 19th century it was settled by Druze who still inhabit the village Contents 1 History 1 1 Byzantine era 1 2 Ottoman era 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editByzantine era edit Harran was inhabited during the Byzantine era in Syria as attested by an inscription found in the village dedicated to the goddess Athena dating from 212 to 375 CE 2 A public hostel was built by four of the village s administrators in 397 98 2 It is unlikely that a majority of the Arabic speaking inhabitants of Harran were Christians at that time 2 By the late 6th century Harran s inhabitants were Christians and the village was part of the Ghassanid tribal kingdom a vassal of the Byzantines A bilingual Arabic and Greek inscription was found in Harran dating from 568 69 CE 3 The inscription describes a martyrium built by an Arab phylarch equivalent to sheikh chieftain named Sharahil ibn Zalim 3 Sharahil may have been associated with the Ghassanids since his name is not found in records mentioning the tribe 3 The inscription of Harran along with two other Arabic inscriptions found in Zabad near Aleppo and Jabal Usays mountain east of Damascus depict the earliest known appearance of Arabic in Syria 4 The development of written Arabic in Syria at this time was likely to facilitate the spread of Christianity among Arab tribesmen living in the region s desert fringes 4 The Harran inscription read I Sharahil son of Zalim have built this martyrium in the year 463 568 CE 3 Ottoman era edit In 1596 Harran appeared in the Ottoman tax registers as part of the nahiya subdistrict of Bani Abdullah in the Sanjak Hauran It had an entirely Muslim population consisting of four households They paid a fixed tax rate of 40 on agricultural products including wheat barley summer crops goats and beehives in addition to occasional revenues the taxes totaled 3 350 akce 5 In 1838 Harran was noted as a ruin situated in the Lejah itself 6 Harran was among five villages in the heart of the Lajah plateau that was settled by Druze by 1862 the villages were settled sometime between the early 19th century and 1862 7 See also editDruze in SyriaReferences edit a b General Census of Population and Housing 2004 Syria Central Bureau of Statistics CBS Al Suwayda Governorate in Arabic a b c Trombley 1995 p 369 a b c d Fowden 1999 pp 163 164 a b Robin 2012 p 307 Hutteroth and Abdulfattah 1977 p 216 Robinson and Smith 1841 vol 3 2nd appendix p 156 Firro 1992 p 175Bibliography editFirro Kais 1992 A History of the Druzes Vol 1 BRILL ISBN 9004094377 Fowden Elizabeth Key 1999 The Barbarian Plain Saint Sergius between Rome and Iran University of California Press ISBN 9780520922204 Hutteroth Wolf Dieter Abdulfattah Kamal 1977 Historical Geography of Palestine Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten Sonderband 5 Erlangen Germany Vorstand der Frankischen Geographischen Gesellschaft ISBN 3 920405 41 2 Robin Christian Julien 2012 Arabia and Ethiopia The Oxford Handbook of Late Antiquity Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 999633 9 Robinson E Smith E 1841 Biblical Researches in Palestine Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea A Journal of Travels in the year 1838 Vol 3 Boston Crocker amp Brewster Trombley Frank R 1995 Hellenic Religion and Christianization C 370 529 Brill ISBN 9004096914 External links editMap of the town Google Maps Ezra map 20m Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harran as Suwayda amp oldid 1137011055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
