The Orontes River and 3 norias

The norias

Location of the governorate of Hama

Hama (Arabic: حماة, meaning fortress) is a city on the banks of the Orontes river in central Syria. It is the provincial capital of the Hama Governorate. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Red_pog2. ... An overshot water wheel standing 42 feet high powers the Old Mill at Berry College in Rome, Georgia A water wheel (also waterwheel, Norse mill, Persian wheel or noria) is a hydropower system; a system for extracting power from a flow of water. ... An overshot water wheel standing 42 feet high powers the Old Mill at Berry College in Rome, Georgia A water wheel (also waterwheel, Norse mill, Persian wheel or noria) is a hydropower system; a system for extracting power from a flow of water. ... Image File history File links Hama-map. ... Image File history File links Hama-map. ... Arabic redirects here. ... The Orontes or ‘Asi is a river of Lebanon and Syria. ... Hama Governorate Hama Governorate (Arabic: مُحافظة حماه) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. ...

Description

Its population numbers 410,000 inhabitants, making it the fifth-largest city in Syria, after Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Latakia. For other uses, see Damascus (disambiguation). ... Location of the governorate of Aleppo within Syria Aleppo (Arabic: [ḥalab], ) is a city in northern Syria, capital of the Aleppo Governorate. ... Homs (Arabic: , transliteration: ) is a western city in Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. ... Roundabout in Latakia Latakia (Arabic: اللاذقية Al-Ladhiqiyah, Greek:Λαοδικεία) is the principal port city of Syria. ...

Hama is an important agricultural and industrial center in Syria, with 3,680 square kilometres (over a third of the governorate's area) under cultivation. The governorate produces over half of the national crop of potatoes and pistachio nuts, as well as growing a variety of other vegetables and supporting a healthy livestock ranching industry besides.

The city proper is renowned for its 16 norias used for watering the gardens, which—it is claimed—date back to 1100 BC. Though historically used for purpose of irrigation, nowadays the norias are almost entirely aesthetic and traditional. An overshot water wheel standing 42 feet high powers the Old Mill at Berry College in Rome, Georgia A water wheel (also waterwheel, Norse mill, Persian wheel or noria) is a hydropower system; a system for extracting power from a flow of water. ...

Ancient history

The ancient settlement of Hama was occupied from the early Neolithic to the Iron Age. It was excavated between 1931-1933 by a Danish team under the direction of H. Ingholt. The stratigraphy is very generalised, which makes detailed comparison to other sites difficult. Level M (6 m thick) contained both white ware, vessels made from lime-plaster and true pottery. It may be contemporary with Ras Shamra VA and B (6000-5000 BC). The overlying level L dates to the Chalcolithic Halaf-period. An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools. ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... Ugarit (modern site Ras Shamra 35°35´ N; 35°45´E) was an ancient cosmopolitan port city, sited on the Mediterranean coast of northern Syria a few kilometers north of the modern city of Latakia. ... The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos copper stone) period, also known as the Eneolithic (Aeneolithic) or Copper Age period, is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools. ... Hunting scene relief in basalt found at Tell Halaf, dated 850-830 BCE The Halafs were a population living in 5500 - 4500 BC in northwestern Mesopotamia. ...

The Hittite levels are overlain by Aramaic remains which date to the end of the 11th century. At this time, Aramaic tribes seem to have taken over the whole Orontes and Litani-valley. Relief of Suppiluliuma II, last known king of the Hittite Empire The Hittites were an ancient people from KaneÅ¡ who spoke an Indo-European language, and established a kingdom centered at Hattusa (Hittite URU) in north-central Anatolia from the 18th century BC. In the 14th century BC, the Hittite... Aramaic is a Semitic language with a four-thousand year history. ... The Orontes or ‘Asi is a river of Lebanon and Syria. ... The Litani river is an important waterway in southern Lebanon. ...

Iron age Hama (Hamath) seems to have been a centre of ivory-working. It shows strong Egyptian influence. Together with Aram (Damascus) Hama formed an important Aramaic state in the Syrian interior. As the Aramaic script was written on paper, very few records have been recovered in Hama itself. Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Damascus (disambiguation). ... Aramaic was for a long time (between the later Assyrian empire and the Abbasid Caliphate) a lingua franca in the Middle East; its alphabet, though itself derived from the Phoenician alphabet, therefore superseded the Old Hebrew alphabet that had been independently descended from the Phoenician alphabet. ...

Biblical reports are scarce, but state that Hamath was the capital of a Canaanite kingdom (2 Kings 23:33; 24:21) whose king, congratulated king David on his victory over the king of Soba (2 Samuel 8:9-11; 1 Chronicles 13:9-11). Solomon, it would seem, took possession of Hamath and its territory (1 Kings 4:21-24; 2 Chronicles 8:4). The prophet Amos (vi, 2) calls the town "Hamath the Great". Indeed, the name appears to stem from Phoenician khamat "fort" ^[1]. The Assyrians took possession of it towards the end of the eighth century B.C. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Map of Canaan For other uses, see Canaan (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Biblical figure. ... Amos (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian  ; Burden) is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible, and putative author of the speeches reported in the Book of Amos. ...

When the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) conquered the North of Syria he reached Hama in 835 BC; this marks the beginning of Assyrian sources on the kingdom. Irhuleni of Hama and Im-idri of Aram (biblical Bar-Hadad) led a coalition of Syrian cities against the encroaching Assyrian armies. According to Assyrian sources, they were confronted by 4,000 chariots, 2,000 horsemen, 62,000 foot-soldiers and 1,000 Arab camel-riders at the fortress of Qarqar. The Assyrian victory seems to have been more of a draw, although Shalmaneser III continued to the ocean and even took a ship to open sea. In the following years, Shalmaneser III failed to conquer Hamath and Aram as well. After the death of Shalmaneser III the former allies Hamath and Aram fell out, and Aram seems to have taken over some of Hama's territory. Shalmaneser III (Šulmānu-ašarēdu, the god Shulmanu is pre-eminent) was king of Assyria (859 BC-824 BC), and son of the previous ruler, Ashurnasirpal II. His long reign was a constant series of campaigns against the eastern tribes, the Babylonians, the nations of Mesopotamia and Syria... For other uses, see Assyria (disambiguation). ... Karkar is an archaeological site in northwestern Syria. ...

An Aramaic inscription by Zakir, king of Hamath and La'ash, tells of an attack by a coalition under Ben-Hadad III, son of Hasael, king of Aram, including Sam'al. Zakir was besieged in his fortress of Hazrak, but saved by intervention of the God Be'elschamen. Later on, Ja'udi-Sam'al came to rule both Hamath and Aram. Zincirli (also Zinjirli, Zenjirli, Senjirli; Turkish: Zincirli Höyük) is an archaeological site at the location of the ancient Hittite city of Samal. ...

In 743 BC Tiglath-Pileser III took a number of towns in the territory of Hama, but not the town itself. In 738 Hama is listed among the towns conquered by Assyrian troops. Over 30,000 Syrians from the environs of Hama were deported to the Zagros-mountains. Centuries: 9th century BC - 8th century BC - 7th century BC Decades: 790s BC 780s BC 770s BC 760s BC 750s BC - 740s BC - 730s BC 720s BC 710s BC 700s BC 690s BC Events and Trends February 26 747 BC - Nabonassar becomes king of Assyria 747 BC - Meles becomes king... Tiglath-Pileser III — stela from the walls of his palace (British Museum, London) Tiglath-Pileser III (Akkadian: TukultÄ«-Apil-EÅ¡arra) was a prominent king of Assyria in the 8th century BC (ruled 745–727 BC)[1][2] and is widely regarded as the founder of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. ... Centuries: 9th century BC - 8th century BC - 7th century BC Decades: 780s BC 770s BC 760s BC 750s BC 740s BC - 730s BC - 720s BC 710s BC 700s BC 690s BC 680s BC Events and Trends 739 BC - Hiram II becomes king of Tyre 738 BC - King Tiglath-Pileser III... The Zagros Mountains (In Persian:رشته‌کوه‌های زاگرس) make up Irans second largest mountain range. ...

In 605 BC, the remains of the Egyptian garrison of Carchemish was annihilated at Hama by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. In 554/553 Hama was the target of a campaign by Nabonidus of Babylon. Centuries: 8th century BC - 7th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 650s BC 640s BC 630s BC 620s BC 610s BC - 600s BC - 590s BC 580s BC 570s BC 560s BC 550s BC Events and Trends Fall of the Assyrian Empire and Rise of Babylon 609 BC _ King Josiah... Carchemish (pr. ... For other uses, see Babylon (disambiguation). ... Nebuchadnezzar (or Nebudchadrezzar) II (ca. ... Nabonidus (Akkadian Nabû-nāʾid) was the last King of Babylon, who ruled the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 556 BC to 539 BC. His reign was characterized by his lack of interest in the politics and religion of his kingdom, preferring instead to study the older temples and antiquities in... For other uses, see Babylon (disambiguation). ...

At the time of the Macedonian conquest it was given the name Epiphania, no doubt in honour of and probably by king Antiochus Epiphanes. The inhabitants took no notice and continued to use the old name. Aquila and Theodoretus call it Emath-Epiphania. Epiphania is the name of several places and people. ... Coin of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175 - 163 BC). ...

The city later came under the control of Rome and of the Byzantine Empire, as part of the province of Syria Secunda. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Byzantine redirects here. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

Muslim and crusader feudal era

The Ainouri Mosque minaret

Conquered by the Arabs in A.D. 638 or 639, the town regained its ancient name, and has since retained it, under the form Hama(h), meaning a fortress. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 561 KB) en: Hama, Syria - a minaret of Al Nouri mosque sl: Hama, Sirija - minaret al-Nurijeve mošeje I took the photo myself. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 561 KB) en: Hama, Syria - a minaret of Al Nouri mosque sl: Hama, Sirija - minaret al-Nurijeve mošeje I took the photo myself. ...

Tancred took it in 1108, but in 1115 the Franks lost it definitively. The Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi (1179-1229), was born there. Christian Crusaders held Hama briefly (1108), but in 1188 it was re-taken by Saladin, under whose Ayyubid family it remained until it passed to Egyptian Mamluk control in 1299. An early Mamluk governor of Hama was Abu al-Fida (reigned 1310–30), the historian and geographer. Yaqut (Yaqut ibn-Abdullah al-Hamawi) (1179 - 1229) was an Arab biographer and geographer. ... Saladin, properly known as Salah al-DÄ«n Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Arabic: , Kurdish: ) (c. ... The Ayyubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Egypt, Iraq in the 12th and 13th centuries. ... Mamluk Flag Eastern Mediterranean 1450 Capital Cairo Language(s) Arabic, Kipchak Turkic[1] Religion Islam Government Monarchy [[Category:Former monarchies}}|Mamluk Sultanate, 1250]] History  - As-Salih Ayyubs death 1250  - Battle of Ridanieh 1517 Today part of  Egypt  Saudi Arabia  Syria  Palestine  Israel  Lebanon  Jordan  Turkey  Libya A Mamluk cavalryman... أبو الفدا or Abu al-Fida or Abul Fida Ismail ibn Kathir (fully Abu Al-fida Ismail Ibn Kathir imad Ad-din, (also transliterated Abulfeda, Abu Alfida, and other ways) ( 1301 - 1373) was an Syrian historian and mufassir. ...

In the early 16th century the city came under the control of the Ottoman Empire, during which period a variety of Khans, and a beautiful Palace (the Al-Azem Palace - still existent), were built. Hamah (in Turkish) was a town of 45,000 inhabitants, prettily situated on the Orontes, and the residence of a Mutessarif (governor), depending on Damascus. The main portion of the population was Muslim, besides about 10,000 Christians of various rites. Ottoman redirects here. ... Khan (sometimes spelled as xan, han) is a title meaning ruler in Mongolian and Turkish. ...

Modern history

After World War I Hama was made part of the French Levant States League of Nations mandate, and in 1941 it became part of independent Syria. The Levant The Levant (IPA: ) is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. ...

Main article: Hama Massacre

Political insurgency by Islamic groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood beginning in the early 1980s culminated in an uprising in February, 1982. Government forces led by the president's brutal brother, Rifaat al-Assad, quelled the revolt, but killed thousands of civilians and destroyed much of the old part of the city in the process. The town was shelled by the Syrian military, and the estimated deaths numbered more than 20,000 and may have been as high as 30,000 or 40,000, a big portion of them were women and children. The story is suppressed in Syria. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Muslim Brothers (Arabic: الإخوان المسلمون al-ikhwān al-muslimūn, full title The Society of the Muslim Brothers, often simply الإخوان al-ikhwān, the Brotherhood or MB) is a world-wide Sunni Islamist movement and the worlds largest, most influential Islamist group[1]. The MB is the largest political... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Image:Rifaat al-Assad. ...

Ecclesiastical history

Greek Orthodox church

Hamatha or Amatha is still a Roman Catholic titular see, suffragan of Apamea. It is as Epiphania that it is best known in ecclesiastical documents. Lequien (Oriens Christianus, II, 915-918) mentions nine Greek bishops of Epiphania. The first of them, whom he calls Mauritius, is the Manikeios whose signature appears in the First Council of Nicaea (Gelzer, "Patrum Nicaenorum Nomina", p. lxi). When first appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu in Hawaii, Joseph Anthony Ferrario became a titular bishop of the titular see of the ancient Egyptian city of Cusae. ... A bishop is an ordained person who holds a specific position of authority in any of a number of Christian churches. ... Apamea is located on the right bank of the Orontes River, about 55 km to the northwest of Hama, Syria, overlooking the Ghab valley. ... Michel Le Quien (Boulogne-sur-Mer 8 October 1661–Paris 12 March 1733) was a French historian and theologian. ... The First Council of Nicaea, held in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day Iznik in Turkey), convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 325, was the first Ecumenical council[1] of the early Christian Church, and most significantly resulted in the first uniform Christian doctrine, called the Nicene Creed. ...

It has two Catholic archbishops, a Greek Melkite and a Syrian, the one residing at Labroud, the other at Homs, reuniting the titles of Homs (Emesus) and Hamah (Missiones Catholicae, 781-804). The Orthodox Greeks have a bishop of their own for either see. The Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Arabic: , ) is an Eastern Rite sui juris particular Church of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope. ... Homs (Arabic: , transliteration: ) is a western city in Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. ... Homs (Arabic, حمص ) is a midwestern city in Syria, the capital of the Homs Governorate. ...

See also

Sound of a noria Image File history File links Hama-sound_of_noria. ...

Sound of a noria

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

External links

• site of Hama governorate

• Pictures of Hama and Homs

Sources

(incomplete)

• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913. [1]

The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

References

Further reading

• P. J. Riis/V. Paulsen, Hama: fouilles et recherches 1931-1938 (Copenhagen 1957).

Coordinates: 35°08′N, 36°45′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...