Al-Midya
Encyclopedia
al-Midya is a Palestinian
village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
in the northern West Bank
, located 20 kilometers west of Ramallah
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
, the village had a population of over 1,301 inhabitants in 2007.
Al-Midya's total land area was 6,959 dunam
s in 1942, but after 1948 and the seizure of most of the village's western land, it was reduced to 892 dunams, of which 217 were classified as built-up areas.
and later periods has been found. Al-Midya — anciently known as Modeim — was the birthplace of Mattathias
the Hasmonean
and of his descendants. It was in the village that the Hasmonean revolt broke out. The rebels were forced to evacuate the village, but were able to bury their dead there. Simeon the Hasmonean
built a mausoleum, which was adorned with seven pyramids and high columns with sculptures of ships visible from the sea. The tombs of Maccabees have been found north of the village. In the time of Jonathan
, Modeim passed into Jewish possession with the rest of the toparchy of Lydda
. On the Map of Madaba it is located east of Lydda.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
The Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate is one of 16 Governorates of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It covers a large part of the central West Bank, on the northern border of the Jerusalem Governorate. Its district capital or muhfaza is the city of al-Bireh.According to the Palestinian Central...
in the northern West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, located 20 kilometers west of Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is the statistical organization under the umbrella of the Palestinian Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority....
, the village had a population of over 1,301 inhabitants in 2007.
Al-Midya's total land area was 6,959 dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s in 1942, but after 1948 and the seizure of most of the village's western land, it was reduced to 892 dunams, of which 217 were classified as built-up areas.
History
The ancient village site is located at Ras al-Midya, north of the village, where pottery from the Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
and later periods has been found. Al-Midya — anciently known as Modeim — was the birthplace of Mattathias
Mattathias
Mattathias ben Johanan was a Jewish priest whose role in the Jewish revolt against the Syrian Greeks is related in the Books of the Maccabees...
the Hasmonean
Hasmonean
The Hasmonean dynasty , was the ruling dynasty of Judea and surrounding regions during classical antiquity. Between c. 140 and c. 116 BCE, the dynasty ruled semi-autonomously from the Seleucids in the region of Judea...
and of his descendants. It was in the village that the Hasmonean revolt broke out. The rebels were forced to evacuate the village, but were able to bury their dead there. Simeon the Hasmonean
Simon Maccabaeus
Simon Thassi was the second son of Mattathias and thus a member of the Hasmonean family. The name "Thassi" has an uncertain meaning...
built a mausoleum, which was adorned with seven pyramids and high columns with sculptures of ships visible from the sea. The tombs of Maccabees have been found north of the village. In the time of Jonathan
Jonathan Maccabaeus
Jonathan Apphus was leader of the Hasmonean Dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. The name Apphus could mean = "the dissembler", "the Wary", or "the diplomat", in allusion to a trait prominent in him -Leader of the Jews:...
, Modeim passed into Jewish possession with the rest of the toparchy of Lydda
Lod
Lod is a city located on the Sharon Plain southeast of Tel Aviv in the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2010, it had a population of 70,000, roughly 75 percent Jewish and 25 percent Arab.The name is derived from the Biblical city of Lod...
. On the Map of Madaba it is located east of Lydda.