Tripoli, Lebanon
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| Tripoli طرابلس |
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| Time zone | +2 (UTC) |
| - Summer (DST) | +3 (UTC) |
| Website: Tripoli-Lebanon.com | |
Tripoli (Lebanese Arabic: طرابلس Ṭrāblos or Ṭrēblos, locally Ṭrōblos, Standard Arabic (transliterated): Ṭarābulus; Greek: Τριπολης, Tripolis) is the second-largest city in Lebanon, located north of Batroun and Cape Lithoprosopon. Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and a qada of the same name. The ciy is located 85 km north of the capital Beirut and can be described as the most Eastern part of Lebanon.
In ancient times, this was the center of a Phoenician confederation which included Tyre, Sidon and Arados, hence the name Tripoli, from the Greek meaning "triple city". Later, it was controlled successively by the Persians, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamelukes, and Ottomans. The Crusaders established the County of Tripoli there in the twelfth century.
Today it is the second-largest city and second-largest port, in Lebanon, with approximately 500,000 inhabitants,[1] mainly Sunnis.[2] The city is divided between the El-Mina port district and the town of Tripoli proper.
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[edit] Names and Etymology
Tripoli had a number of different names as far back as the Phoenician age. In the Amarna letters the name "Derbly" was mentioned, and in other places "Ahlia" or "Wahlia" are mentioned (14th century BC).[3] In an engraving concerning the invasion of Tripoli by the Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II (888-859 BC), it is called Mahallata or Mahlata, Mayza, and Kayza.[4]
Under the Phoenicians, the name Athar was used to refer to Tripoli.[5] When the Greeks settled in the city they called it "Tripoli", meaning "three cities".[6] The Arabs called it a variety of names, including the Princedom of Tripoli, the State of Tripoli, and the Eastern Tripoli Kingdom. In addition, the names Tarabulus, or Atrabulus, and Tarablus al-Sham, were also used. The Crusaders settled in Tripoli for about 180 years and made it the capital of the County of Tripoli. The city was also simply named "Triple".
Today, Tripoli is also known as Al-Fayha'a, derived from the Arabic verb Faha which is used to indicate the spread of a certain smell. Tripoli was best known with its vast orange orchards. During the season of blooming, the pollen of orange flowers gets carried by the air spreading a splendid odour that can be felt anywhere in the city and its suburbs, hence the name al-Fayha'a.[7]
[edit] History
The land where Tripoli was to be built has been settled since the Bronze Age. A historical record speak of a canaanite tribe migrating from Palestine to Tripoli in the 13th century BC. However, some historians deny the existence of any Phoenician civilization before the 8th century BC.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ TRIPOLI
- ^ Syria/Lebanon By Wolfgang Gockel, Helga Bruns. p 190.
- ^ Les Peuples Et Les Civilisations Du Proche Orient by Jawād Būlus. p. 308.
- ^ Wanderings -2: History of the Jews by Chaim Potok. P. 169.
- ^ History of Syria, Including Lebanon and Palestine By Philip Khuri Hitti. p. 225.
- ^ Lebanon in Pictures By Peter Roop, Sam Schultz, Margaret J. Goldstein. p. 17.
- ^ Names of Tripoli through the history
- ^ The Prehistoric Period of Tripoli
[edit] External links
- www.tripoli-city.org Tripoli's most prominent history scholar moderates this site
- Tripoli-Lebanon.com
- Tripoli Culture and Events
- Tripoli History
- Actuplebanon.com : pictures of Tripoli, Beirut, Lebanon
