Rakhlah (Arabic: رخلة; also spelled Rakhleh or Rakhlé), previously known as Zenopolis,[3] is a village situated 31 kilometres (19 mi) west of Damascus, Syria.[4] also known as "The town of Wine and Poetry".
According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 368 in the 2004 census.[2] The population is predominantly Druze.[5] The main family is Abou Kheir,
Rakhlah is a possible location of the bishopric of "Rachlea"[7][8] included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.[9] In his account of this bishopric, which he calls that "of the Rachlenes" (Latin Rachlenorum, Greek Ραχληνῶν), Le Quien says that, at a provincial synod held at Tyre in 518, Elias, spoken of in the acts as Bishop of the Rachlenes, signed as Ἠλίας ἐπίσκοπος Ζηνουπόλεως (Elias Bishop of Zenopolis); and that the acts of the Second Council of Constantinople in 553 bear the signature of "Anastasius by the mercy of God Bishop of the Rachlenes in the province of the Tyrians".[10]
Ancient templesedit
Medallion on the temple at Rûkhleh, outside the south wall, near the east corner
There are the ruins of two Roman-Phoenician temples in the village that are included in a group of Temples of Mount Hermon.[3][11][12] The smaller, apsidal temple was cut out of bedrock. The other, larger temple may have been used as a church and is constructed of enormous blocks of limestone; it measures 82.5 feet (25.1 m) by 57 feet (17 m). It features two rows of ionic columns that run along the walls from the entrance to a semi-circular altar.[13] One of the walls of the temple is adorned with a relief of the face of a sun god, possibly Ba'al[14] within a wreath that is aligned to look at Mount Hermon and measures 40 inches (100 cm) in diameter.[15][16] Two stones close to the gate show depictions of a bird with outstretched wings that was suggested to have been part of the temple's architrave. The carving was described as "essentially Assyrian in character" by Edward Robinson when visiting the site in 1852. He further suggested that the stone was brought to the site from a far distance. He considered the construction of the temples was likely to have taken place "many centuries before the Christian era". He noted several Greek inscriptions and took some copies.[14] The epigraphic information derived from the inscriptions at Rakleh has supported the existence of a local settlement and given details of the names and positions of the temple officials.[17] One of the texts starts with the invocation "to the Good Fortune". It is also known from the inscriptions that the Greek goddess of the sea, Leucothea, was worshipped in the temple from 60 CE onwards. Two of the texts show that the officials exercised an unspecified authority. They detail the restoration of the temple using funds, implying they owned estates or assets earning interest. A building constructed in 253 CE was said to have been paid for "at the expense of the goddess taken from the interest". The treasurers of the temple also funded a new door in 379 CE.[3]
A few other rock cut tombs and caverns have been noted around the area.[5][18]
^ abcTed Kaizer (2008). Aliquot, Julien., Sanctuaries and villages on Mount Hermon in the Roman period in The Variety of Local Religious Life in the Near East In the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. BRILL. pp. 76–. ISBN978-90-04-16735-3. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
^Ross Burns (20 January 2005). Damascus: A History. Taylor & Francis. pp. 78–. ISBN978-0-415-27105-9. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
^ abTransactions. 1868. pp. 216–. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^Kaizer, T. (2008). The Variety of Local Religious Life in the Near East: In the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. Brill. ISBN9789004167353. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
^David M. Cheney, Rachlea at Catholic hierarchy 1996–2015.
^The diocese of Rachlea is in the Province of Fenicia I and under Bishop of Tiro. It should not be confused with Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina.
^Quien, M.L.; Imprimerie Royale (París) (1740). Oriens christianus: in quatuor patriarchatus digestus : quo exhibentur ecclesiae, patriarchae caeterique praesules totius orientis. ex Typographia Regia. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
^Cymmrodorion Society (1890). Y Cymmrodor. Cymmrodorion Society. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^Daniel M. Krencker; Willy Zschietzschmann (1938). Römische Tempel in Syrien: nach Aufnahmen und Untersuchungen von Mitgliedern der Deutschen Baalbekexpedition 1901–1904, pp. 205-269 & pl, 83-116, Otto Puchstein, Bruno Schulz, Daniel Krencker. W. de Gruyter & Co. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
^Victor Guérin (2005). Mission au Liban: description géographique, historique et archéologique ... accompagnée de gravures ... Librairie Antoine. ISBN9789953730134. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^ abCharles Wilson (3 June 2010). Picturesque Palestiine, Sinai and Egypt. Sophia Perennis et Universalis. ISBN978-1-59731-459-6. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
^Albert Leighton Rawson (1870). The Bible Handbook: For Sunday-schools and Bible Readers. With 150 Engravings and 25 Maps and Plans. R.B. Thompson. pp. 87–. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^A. H. Sayce (April 2004). The Early History of the Hebrews. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 327–. ISBN978-0-7661-8991-1. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^"Di Segni, Leah., On a dated inscription from Rakhle and the eras used on the Hermon Range, in Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphic 117, pp. 277-280, 1997" (PDF). uni-koeln.de. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
^Karl Baedeker (1876). Palestine and Syria, handbook for travellers. Karl Baedeker, Dulau. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
John D. Miller, The Business of Baal, Premier community christian media, December 13, 2011
Rakhlah on wikimapia.org
January 01, 1970
rakhlah, arabic, رخلة, also, spelled, rakhleh, rakhlé, previously, known, zenopolis, village, situated, kilometres, west, damascus, syria, also, known, town, wine, poetry, رخلةrakhleh, rakhlé, zenopolisvillagelocation, syriacoordinates, 51639, 97278, 51639, 97. Rakhlah Arabic رخلة also spelled Rakhleh or Rakhle previously known as Zenopolis 3 is a village situated 31 kilometres 19 mi west of Damascus Syria 4 also known as The town of Wine and Poetry Rakhlah رخلةRakhleh Rakhle ZenopolisVillageRakhlahLocation in SyriaCoordinates 33 30 59 N 35 58 22 E 33 51639 N 35 97278 E 33 51639 35 97278Country SyriaGovernorateRif Dimashq GovernorateDistrictQatana DistrictNahiyahQatanaElevation 1 1 550 m 5 090 ft Population 2004 census 2 Total368Time zoneUTC 3 EET Summer DST UTC 2 EEST According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics the village had a population of 368 in the 2004 census 2 The population is predominantly Druze 5 The main family is Abou Kheir Contents 1 Ancient history 2 Ancient temples 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksAncient history editIn Late Antiquity the city was known as Zenopolis Greek Zhnoypolis in the Roman province of Phoenice Paralia or Phoenicia Prima It became a city and a bishopric at the end of the 5th century 6 Rakhlah is a possible location of the bishopric of Rachlea 7 8 included in the Catholic Church s list of titular sees 9 In his account of this bishopric which he calls that of the Rachlenes Latin Rachlenorum Greek Raxlhnῶn Le Quien says that at a provincial synod held at Tyre in 518 Elias spoken of in the acts as Bishop of the Rachlenes signed as Ἠlias ἐpiskopos Zhnoypolews Elias Bishop of Zenopolis and that the acts of the Second Council of Constantinople in 553 bear the signature of Anastasius by the mercy of God Bishop of the Rachlenes in the province of the Tyrians 10 Ancient temples edit nbsp Medallion on the temple at Rukhleh outside the south wall near the east corner There are the ruins of two Roman Phoenician temples in the village that are included in a group of Temples of Mount Hermon 3 11 12 The smaller apsidal temple was cut out of bedrock The other larger temple may have been used as a church and is constructed of enormous blocks of limestone it measures 82 5 feet 25 1 m by 57 feet 17 m It features two rows of ionic columns that run along the walls from the entrance to a semi circular altar 13 One of the walls of the temple is adorned with a relief of the face of a sun god possibly Ba al 14 within a wreath that is aligned to look at Mount Hermon and measures 40 inches 100 cm in diameter 15 16 Two stones close to the gate show depictions of a bird with outstretched wings that was suggested to have been part of the temple s architrave The carving was described as essentially Assyrian in character by Edward Robinson when visiting the site in 1852 He further suggested that the stone was brought to the site from a far distance He considered the construction of the temples was likely to have taken place many centuries before the Christian era He noted several Greek inscriptions and took some copies 14 The epigraphic information derived from the inscriptions at Rakleh has supported the existence of a local settlement and given details of the names and positions of the temple officials 17 One of the texts starts with the invocation to the Good Fortune It is also known from the inscriptions that the Greek goddess of the sea Leucothea was worshipped in the temple from 60 CE onwards Two of the texts show that the officials exercised an unspecified authority They detail the restoration of the temple using funds implying they owned estates or assets earning interest A building constructed in 253 CE was said to have been paid for at the expense of the goddess taken from the interest The treasurers of the temple also funded a new door in 379 CE 3 A few other rock cut tombs and caverns have been noted around the area 5 18 See also editDruze in SyriaReferences edit العمامة القرى الدرزية بجانب جبل الشيخ a b General Census of Population and Housing 2004 Syria Central Bureau of Statistics CBS Rif Dimashq Governorate in Arabic a b c Ted Kaizer 2008 Aliquot Julien Sanctuaries and villages on Mount Hermon in the Roman period in The Variety of Local Religious Life in the Near East In the Hellenistic and Roman Periods BRILL pp 76 ISBN 978 90 04 16735 3 Retrieved 17 September 2012 Ross Burns 20 January 2005 Damascus A History Taylor amp Francis pp 78 ISBN 978 0 415 27105 9 Retrieved 18 September 2012 a b Transactions 1868 pp 216 Retrieved 20 September 2012 Kaizer T 2008 The Variety of Local Religious Life in the Near East In the Hellenistic and Roman Periods Brill ISBN 9789004167353 Retrieved 28 March 2016 David M Cheney Rachlea at Catholic hierarchy 1996 2015 The diocese of Rachlea is in the Province of Fenicia I and under Bishop of Tiro It should not be confused with Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina Annuario Pontificio 2013 p 957 Quien M L Imprimerie Royale Paris 1740 Oriens christianus in quatuor patriarchatus digestus quo exhibentur ecclesiae patriarchae caeterique praesules totius orientis ex Typographia Regia Retrieved 28 March 2016 Cymmrodorion Society 1890 Y Cymmrodor Cymmrodorion Society Retrieved 20 September 2012 Daniel M Krencker Willy Zschietzschmann 1938 Romische Tempel in Syrien nach Aufnahmen und Untersuchungen von Mitgliedern der Deutschen Baalbekexpedition 1901 1904 pp 205 269 amp pl 83 116 Otto Puchstein Bruno Schulz Daniel Krencker W de Gruyter amp Co Retrieved 17 September 2012 Victor Guerin 2005 Mission au Liban description geographique historique et archeologique accompagnee de gravures Librairie Antoine ISBN 9789953730134 Retrieved 20 September 2012 a b Charles Wilson 3 June 2010 Picturesque Palestiine Sinai and Egypt Sophia Perennis et Universalis ISBN 978 1 59731 459 6 Retrieved 19 September 2012 Albert Leighton Rawson 1870 The Bible Handbook For Sunday schools and Bible Readers With 150 Engravings and 25 Maps and Plans R B Thompson pp 87 Retrieved 20 September 2012 A H Sayce April 2004 The Early History of the Hebrews Kessinger Publishing pp 327 ISBN 978 0 7661 8991 1 Retrieved 20 September 2012 Di Segni Leah On a dated inscription from Rakhle and the eras used on the Hermon Range in Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphic 117 pp 277 280 1997 PDF uni koeln de Retrieved 28 March 2016 Karl Baedeker 1876 Palestine and Syria handbook for travellers Karl Baedeker Dulau Retrieved 20 September 2012 External links edit nbsp Asia portal nbsp History portal Photo of Rakhlah on panoramio com John D Miller The Business of Baal Premier community christian media December 13 2011 Rakhlah on wikimapia org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rakhlah amp oldid 1172980011, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
