Zerhoun

Jbel Zerhoun
جبل زرهون

View of Jbel Zerhoun
Elevation 1,025 m (3,363 ft)
Location
Jbel Zerhoun

Morocco

Range Rif
Coordinates 34°2′1.8″N 05°31′12.54″W / 34.033833°N 5.5201500°WCoordinates: 34°2′1.8″N 05°31′12.54″W / 34.033833°N 5.5201500°W
Climbing
First ascent Unknown
Easiest route From Meknes

Zerhoun (also spelled Zarhun or Zarhon) is a mountain in Morocco, north of Meknes. On the hill is the Moulay Idris Zarhona town, named after Moulay Idris I, the founder of the Idrisid dynasty who was buried there in 791 AD.[1]

Geography

Since the whole town of Moulay Idris is considered a sanctuary, it pays no taxes, and provides no soldiers. Non-Muslims are allegedly forbidden within the village after dark. This is plausible, considering the lack of lodging.[2]

Near the Zerhoun range are the ruins of Volubilis, or Pharaohs Castle, once the Roman capital, and the first home of Idris I. It was settled by Phoenicians or Carthaginians prior to the conclusion of the Punic Wars, when it was annexed by Rome.[3] After the withdrawal of Rome, Christian Berbers continued to inhabit Volubilis until the seventh century AD (Bidwell, 2005). Volubilis has been designated as a World Heritage Site.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. ↑ Margaret Bidwell and Robin Bidwell (2005) Morocco: The Traveller's Companion, Tauris Parke Publishing, 326 pages, ISBN 1845111079
  3. ↑ C. Michael Hogan (2007) Volubilis, The Megalithic Portal, edited by A. Burnham

External links