Chyah
Encyclopedia
Chiyah is situated in the west region of the Lebanese
capital of Beirut
.
The meaning of its name is vague and many suppositions were found: one saying that it has a Syriac origin (Chyaha) meaning the budding, another one saying that it means the processing of metal (Shewah) another theory is the Arabic origin of the name meaning a kind of tree that is used for silk
production (a flourishing industry in this village).
Historically, it was a Christian
town, but it became partly inhabited by Shias due to the prosecution and the ethnic cleansing of the Shi'as from Mount Lebanon. During the Ottoman
period, it used to be governed by the Arslan family and later on by the Shihab dynasty.
Chiyah is located in the south-west suburbs of the capital Beirut
bordered by Haret-Hreik, Ghobeiry, Hadath, Hazmieh, Furn-el-chebbak and Ain El Remanneh. However, before 1956, it used to cover larger areas including current districts Karm el Zeitoun, Hayy el Knissé, Bir Abed and Haret el Mjadlé as well as Jnah, Ghobeiry, Furn-el-chebbak, Bir Hassan, and Ain El Remanneh.
The city was once covered with citrus orchards and extending to the Mediterranean Sea
, today, it is a full part of the demographically huge Beirut
outskirts totalling around 60,000 inhabitants.
In Chiyah, resides the Gharios
family, one of the most socially and economically prominent families in Lebanon
rooting back their ancestries to the ever famous Sheiks Chemor
of Kfarhata (former Christian rulers of Aaqoura and Zgharta). Other prominent natives of Chiyah include late ministers and parliament members Michel Zaccour and Wadih Naim as well as Doctor Nakhleh Achkar.
The former head of the municipality for the last eleven years is parliament member hopeful Edmond Gharios
. Currently, Roland Rahal heads the municipality.
Naji Gharios, a native of Chiyah, was elected in June 2009 as member of the Lebanese Parliament representing the Baabda district.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
capital of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
.
The meaning of its name is vague and many suppositions were found: one saying that it has a Syriac origin (Chyaha) meaning the budding, another one saying that it means the processing of metal (Shewah) another theory is the Arabic origin of the name meaning a kind of tree that is used for silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
production (a flourishing industry in this village).
Historically, it was a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
town, but it became partly inhabited by Shias due to the prosecution and the ethnic cleansing of the Shi'as from Mount Lebanon. During the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
period, it used to be governed by the Arslan family and later on by the Shihab dynasty.
Chiyah is located in the south-west suburbs of the capital Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
bordered by Haret-Hreik, Ghobeiry, Hadath, Hazmieh, Furn-el-chebbak and Ain El Remanneh. However, before 1956, it used to cover larger areas including current districts Karm el Zeitoun, Hayy el Knissé, Bir Abed and Haret el Mjadlé as well as Jnah, Ghobeiry, Furn-el-chebbak, Bir Hassan, and Ain El Remanneh.
The city was once covered with citrus orchards and extending to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, today, it is a full part of the demographically huge Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
outskirts totalling around 60,000 inhabitants.
In Chiyah, resides the Gharios
Gharios
Gharios is the name of Saint Gurias the Ascetic of Edessa , martyr of the 4th century; he died in 305 AD...
family, one of the most socially and economically prominent families in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
rooting back their ancestries to the ever famous Sheiks Chemor
Sheiks Chemor
Chemor is an ancient well known family. Being from the Yamanis, the Chemors left Akoura in the 17th century after the victory of the Qaysi party headed by Hachem over the Yamani party headed by Malik Bin Abi Al Ghaith...
of Kfarhata (former Christian rulers of Aaqoura and Zgharta). Other prominent natives of Chiyah include late ministers and parliament members Michel Zaccour and Wadih Naim as well as Doctor Nakhleh Achkar.
The former head of the municipality for the last eleven years is parliament member hopeful Edmond Gharios
Edmond Gharios
Edmond Mikhaël Gharios born in Chiyah on February 18, 1958 was Head of the Municipality of Chiyah from May 1998 to December 2008....
. Currently, Roland Rahal heads the municipality.
Naji Gharios, a native of Chiyah, was elected in June 2009 as member of the Lebanese Parliament representing the Baabda district.