The coastal city of
Batroun (Greek: Βοτρύς, Arabic: البترون) located in northern
LebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of Lebanon
[Republic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies...]
is one of the oldest
citiesA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
of the world. Batroun is home to a Lebanese Red Cross First Aid Center.
The name
Batroun derives from the
GreekGreek , an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, is the language of the Greeks. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. In its ancient form, it is the language of classical...
, Botrys (also spelled Bothrys), which was later Latinized to Botrus. Historians believe that the Greek name of the town originates from the Phoenician word,
bater, which means
to cut and it referes to the maritime wall that the Phoenicians built in the sea to protect them from tidal waves.
The coastal city of
Batroun (Greek: Βοτρύς, Arabic: البترون) located in northern
LebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of Lebanon
[Republic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies...]
is one of the oldest
citiesA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
of the world. Batroun is home to a Lebanese Red Cross First Aid Center.
Etymology
The name
Batroun derives from the
GreekGreek , an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, is the language of the Greeks. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. In its ancient form, it is the language of classical...
, Botrys (also spelled Bothrys), which was later Latinized to Botrus. Historians believe that the Greek name of the town originates from the Phoenician word,
bater, which means
to cut and it referes to the maritime wall that the Phoenicians built in the sea to protect them from tidal waves. Other historians believe that the name of the town is derivative of the Phoenician words,
beit truna, which translates to
house of the chief.
Tourism
Batroun is a major tourist destination in
North LebanonNorth Governorate is one of the governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Tripoli.-Districts:The North Governorate is divided into districts, or aqdya...
. The town boasts tens of historic churches, both Catholic and
Greek OrthodoxThe Orthodox Church, also officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to in English speaking countries as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the world's second largest Christian communion, estimated to number 225 million members...
. The town is also a major beach resort with a vibrant nightlife. Citrus groves surround Batroun, and the town has been famous, from the early twentieth century, for its fresh lemonade, which is sold by most of the cafés and restaurants on its main street.
Demography
The people of Batroun are Lebanese and followers of the Maronite Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. Batroun is a Roman Catholic (Latin rite)
Titular SeeA titular see in the Roman Catholic Church is a Diocese or Archdiocese that now exists in title only.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Catholic Church is that he be ordained for a specific place...
History
Batroun is likely the "Batruna" mentioned in the el-Amarna letters dating to the 14th century B.C.
Batroun was mentioned by the ancient geographers
StraboStrabo was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born in a wealthy family from Amaseia in Pontus , which had recently become part of the Roman Empire.. He studied under various geographers and philosophers; first in Nysa, later in Rome...
,
PlinyGaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was an author, naturalist, and natural philosopher as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
,
PtolemyClaudius Ptolemaeus , known in English as Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Greek ancestry. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer and a poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under the Roman Empire, and is believed to have been born in the town of...
, Stephanus Byzantius, and
HieroclesHierocles may refer to:*Hierocles , 2nd century, Stoic philosopher*Hierocles , 2nd-3rd century, presumed lover and court official of the emperor Elagabalus...
.
TheophanesTheophanes may refer to:* St. Theophanes, the name of several saints, including:**Theophan the Recluse **Theodorus and Theophanes Theophanes may refer to:* St. Theophanes, the name of several saints, including:**Theophan the Recluse (Russian, 19th century)**Theodorus and Theophanes Theophanes may...
called the city "Bostrys."
The Phoenicians founded Batroun on the southern side of the promontory called in
AntiquityClassical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
,
TheoprosoponTheoprosopon is the Greek name of Lithoprosopon, a cape in north Lebanon, also known today by the name of Râs ach-Chaq’a’. The cape is a situated between the ancient cities of Batroun and Tripoli. The promontory creates a massive barrier that cuts through the coast of Lebanon, making it impossible...
and during the
Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople, and ruled by Emperors in direct and de jure succession to the ancient Roman Emperors...
, Cape Lithoprosopon. Batroun is said to have been founded by
Ithobaal IIthobaal I was a king of Tyre who founded a new dynasty. During his reign, Tyre expanded its power on the mainland, making all of Phoenicia its territory as far north as Beirut, including Sidon, and even a part of the island of Cyprus...
(Ethbaal), king of Tyre, whose daughter Jezabel (897-866 B.C.) married
AhabAhab was king of Israel and the son and successor of Omri . William F. Albright dated his reign to 869 – 850 BC, while E. R...
.
The city belonged under Roman rule to
PhoeniciaPhoenicia what is now modern day Lebanon, was an ancient civilization centered in the north of ancient Canaan, with its heartland along the coastal regions of modern day Lebanon, extending to parts of Israel, Syria and Palestine...
Prima province, and later after the region was Christianized became a suffragan of the Patriarchate of Antioch.
In 551, Batroun was destroyed by an earthquake, which also caused mudslides and made the Cape Lithoprosopon crack. Historians believe that Batroun's large natural harbor was formed during the earthquake.
Three Greek Orthodox bishops are known to have come from Batroun: Porphyrius in 451, Elias about 512 and Stephen in 553 (Lequien, II, 827). According to a Greek
Notitia episcopatuum, the Greek Orthodox See has existed in Batroun since the tenth century when the city was then called
Petrounion. After the Muslim conquests of the region, the name was arabicized to Batroun.
One of Batroun's
medievalThe Middle Ages of European history is a period of European history covering roughly a millennium in the 5th century through 16th centuries. More specific starting and ending points are sometimes adopted by scholars to suit their respective specializations or current focus...
archaeological sites is the
CrusaderThe Crusades were a series of religiously-sanctioned military campaigns waged by much of Latin Christian Europe, particularly the Franks of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The specific crusades to restore Christian control of the Holy Land were fought over a period of nearly 200 years, between...
citadel of Mousaylaha which is constructed on an isolated massive rock with steep sides protruding in the middle of a plain surrounded by mountains.
Under
OttomanThe Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
rule, Batroun was the centre of a
cazaThe Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area or KAZA TFCA is a conservation park that will be created by the African countries of Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. It should be operational by 2010. At 280,000 square km, it will be the largest national park in the world...
in the mutessariflik of Lebanon and the seat of a Maronite diocese, suffragan to the Maronite patriarchate. Since 1999 it has been the seat of the Maronite
eparchyEparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something', but has the following specific meanings, both in political history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Churches....
.
Famous People from Batroun
- Gibran Bassil, Minister of Post and Telecommunications
- Antoine Zahra
Antoine Zahra is a Lebanese Maronite politician and a member of the Lebanese Forces party. He has been an MP in the Lebanese Parliament as a representative of Batroun district since the 2005 legislative elections. He got re-elected in the 2009 legislative elections...
, Parliament Member
- Boutros Harb
Boutros Harb , is a Lebanese politician.A lawyer by profession, his first position was when he was elected in 1972 as deputy Maronite of Batroun, in the North Governorate of Lebanon...
, Parliament Member
- John Abizaid
John Philip Abizaid is a retired General in the United States Army and former Commander of the United States Central Command , overseeing American military operations in a 27-country region, from the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, to South and Central Asia, covering much of the Middle...
, American commander of US army in the Middle East, From Douma-Batroun
- Leon Michel Hoyek, born in 1944, founder and president of three Health Dispensaries established in 1987 under the name of "Human Development Movement" in Batrun, Lebanon. He played an important role during the Lebanese civil war supplying individuals in need with the proper health and food services, despite the gravity of the situation. He is the current occupant of Patriarch Elias Hoyek's
Archbishop and Patriarch Elias Peter Hoayek ; was born in Helta, Lebanon. He was Patriarch of Antioch for the Maronites, the largest Christian community in the Middle East from 1898 to 1931 when he died.He is hailed as the father of Lebanonism and the founder of the modern Lebanese state...
house in Helta, Batrun.
- Saint Nimattullah Kassab Al-Hardini
Saint Nimattullah Kassab Al-Hardini , a Lebanese Roman Catholic saint and a member of the Maronite Church..-Miracles of Saint Nimatullah Kassab Hardini:...
,(1808-1856) Youssef Kassab was born in Hardeen of Batroun , in 1808 . His father was Gerges Kassab , and his mother Maryam Raad. He entered the Lebanese Maronite order's school at Saint Anthony's Monastery in Houb in 1816 stayed there until 1822.
- Michel Basbous, (1921 – 1981) Michel Basbous was born in Rachana, Batroun in 1921. Basbous taught sculpture at the American University of Beirut. Michel Basbous made Rachana an artistic and cultural center be exhibiting his sculptures in open air.
- Sayed Akl, ex- Parliament Member
- Joseph Attieh
Joseph Attieh is a Lebanese singer from Batroun, Lebanon. He became a household name in Lebanon after participating in and winning the third season of Star Academy Lebanon in 2005. Attieh generated around 55% of all the votes, becoming the first Lebanese candidate to win the reality talent show. In...
- Lebanese singer who won Star Academy 3
External links
- http://www.ortmtlb.org.lb/
- http://www.batroun.com/