Jableh

Jableh
جبلة
جبلة الروح

A collage of Jableh.
Jableh

Location in Syria

Coordinates: 35°21′N 35°55′E / 35.350°N 35.917°E / 35.350; 35.917Coordinates: 35°21′N 35°55′E / 35.350°N 35.917°E / 35.350; 35.917
Country Syria
Governorate Latakia Governorate
District Jableh District
Nahiyah Jableh
Elevation 16 m (52 ft)
Population
 • Total 80,000
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)

Jableh (Arabic: جبلة‎‎; Ǧabla, also spelt Jebleh, Jabala, Jablah or Gabala) is a coastal city on the Mediterranean in Syria,[1] 25 km (16 mi) north of Baniyas and 25 km (16 mi) south of Latakia, with c. 80,000 inhabitants (2008). As Ancient Gabala it was a Byzantine (arch)bishopric and remains a Latin Catholic titular see. It contains the tomb and mosque of Ibrahim Bin Adham, a legendary Sufi mystic who renounced his throne of Balkh and devoted himself to prayers for the rest of his life.[2]

History

The Roman theater of Jableh

Jableh has been inhabited since at least the second millennium BCE.[3] The city was part of the Ugaritic kingdom and was mentioned as "Gbʿly" in the archives of the city c. 1200 BC.[4] In antiquity Jableh (then called Gabala) was an important Hellenistic and then Roman city. One of the main remains of this period is a theatre, capable of housing c. 7,000 spectators. Near the seashores even older remains were found dating to the Iron Age or Phoenician Era.

In the medieval period, Jableh was part of the Principality of Antioch, one of the Crusader States, until it was captured by Saladin in 1189 during the Third Crusade. One famous resident was Hugh of Jabala, the city's bishop, who reported the fall of Edessa to Pope Eugene III, and was the first person to speak of Prester John.

Less than 1 kilometer from the city centre lies the ancient site of Gibala, today known as Tell Tweini. This city was inhabited from the third millennium BCE until the Persian period.

On May 23, 2016, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for four suicide bombings in Jableh, which had remained largely unaffected since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011. Purportedly targeting Alawite gatherings, the bombs killed over a hundred people. In Tartus, similarly insulated, another three bombers killed 48 people.[5]

Ecclesiastical History

No later then the 4th century, Gabala became a bishopric in the Roman province of Syria Prima, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Seleucia Pieria. Later it was raised to a Byzantine autocephalous Archbishopric, remaining within the sway of the original Patriarchate of Antioch, apparently until the Muslims conquered all Syria.

(Greek) (Arch)Bishops of Gabala

When the Crusaders conquered Gabala, it became a Latin bishopric in the Principality of Antioch, one of the Crusader States, until its capture by Saladin in 1189 during the Third Crusade, apparently under the Latin Patriarchate of Antioch.

Latin Bishops of Gabala

Latin Titular see

No later then the 16th century the (arch)diocese was nominally restored as Latin Titular bishopric of Gabala (Latin = Curiate Italian) / Gabalen(sis) (Latin adjective).

It has had the following incumbents, all of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :

In ?1932 it was promoted as Latin Titular archbishopric of Gabala (Latin = Curiate Italian) / Gabalen(sis) (Latin adjective).

It has had the following incumbents, mostly of the fitting Archiepiscopal (intermediary) rank with an exception of Episcopal (lowest) rank :

BIOs TO ELABORATE

Economy

The majority of people in Jableh depend on agriculture for their life, people grow orange and lemon trees, olives, a large number of green houses for vegetables can be found in the country side. In the center of the city people work in trade and there are small factories in the city for cottons and for making orange juice.

Notable locals

Sports

Jableh Sporting Club is a football (soccer) club based in Jableh, playing in the Al-Baath Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 10,000.

Climate

Climate data for Jableh
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 12.8
(55)		 14.0
(57.2)		 17.7
(63.9)		 21.4
(70.5)		 25.0
(77)		 28.3
(82.9)		 30.0
(86)		 28.8
(83.8)		 27.6
(81.7)		 26.5
(79.7)		 21.5
(70.7)		 15.5
(59.9)		 22.43
(72.36)
Average low °C (°F) 7.3
(45.1)		 7.8
(46)		 9.9
(49.8)		 12.4
(54.3)		 15.5
(59.9)		 19.4
(66.9)		 22.2
(72)		 22.3
(72.1)		 19.8
(67.6)		 16.7
(62.1)		 12.3
(54.1)		 8.9
(48)		 14.54
(58.16)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 159
(6.26)		 130
(5.12)		 109
(4.29)		 50
(1.97)		 28
(1.1)		 4
(0.16)		 1
(0.04)		 1
(0.04)		 15
(0.59)		 52
(2.05)		 89
(3.5)		 190
(7.48)		 828
(32.6)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) 14 12 11 8 4 1 1 1 2 6 9 12 81
Source #1: http://www.worldweatheronline.com/jableh-weather-averages/al-ladhiqiyah/sy.aspx
Source #2: http://en.climate-data.org/location/47687/

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gabala". Catholic Encyclopedia.
  2. ↑ Google Books Travels In Asia And Africa, 1325-54 By Battuta Ibn, Ibn Batuta Translated by Sir Hamilton Gibb (1996) ISBN 81-206-0809-7 p. 62
  3. ↑ Esber, Hawazan. "Small historical coastal cities: Urban development and freshwater resources". NESCO. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. ↑ William A. Ward, Martha Joukowsky (1992). The Crisis years: the 12th century B.C. : from beyond the Danube to the Tigris. p. 113.
  5. ↑ "IS blasts in Syria regime heartland kill more than 148", by AFP, via Channel NewsAsia
Bibliography - (arch)bishopric of Gabala
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