Wikipedia

Mazraat es-Siyad

Mazraat es-Siyad (Arabic: مزرعة السياد; also transliterated Mazraet es-Siyed, Mazraet el-Siyed, pronounced [Mazraʿat Essiyyèd])[1] is a mountainous village in the highlands of the Byblos District in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate, Lebanon. The town is 58 kilometres (36 mi) away from Beirut, and stands at an elevation of 1,250 m (4,100 ft) above sea level.[2]

Mazraat es-Siyyed
ܕܝܪܐ ܥܘܙܐ | مزرعة السياد
Mazraat es-Siyyed is located in Lebanon
Mazraat es-Siyyed
Mazraat es-Siyyed
Location in Lebanon
Coordinates: 34°6′15″N 35°51′35″E / 34.10417°N 35.85972°E / 34.10417; 35.85972
Country Lebanon
GovernorateKeserwan-Jbeil
DistrictByblos
Government
 • MayorRobert Tony Gharios
Area
 • Total
7.91 km2 (3.05 sq mi)
Highest elevation
1,250 m (4,100 ft)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

History

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The area where the village stands was known as Deir ʿaouza (Arabic: دير عوزه, Syriac: ܕܝܪܐ ܥܘܙܐ, romanized: Dīrā ʿOzā), meaning “The Highest Monastery” or "Monastery of Strength" in reference to the village’s ancient Maronite monastery situated high up in the mountainous village.[3][4]

During the Mamluk era (13th–15th century), local chieftain Sheikh Nawfal Ibrahim El-Khoury bestowed the ruins of the monastery to an ancestor of Al-Husseini family, Sayyid Hussein al-Husseini. Al-Husseini is said to be the first person to reside in the abandoned area after he had restored the monastery.[2] The village is mentioned in Tannus al-Shidiaq's 1859 Akhbar al-a'yan fi Jabal Lubnan (The History of the Notables in Mount Lebanon) as part of the Muqata'aof Jebbet al-Mnaitra in the Mu’amala of Tripoli, a then subdivision of Mount Lebanon.[a][6] During the Mutasarrifate (1861–1918), the village was administratively part of the Mnaitra mudiriyah, within the kaza of Kesserwan.[7][8][9]

Geography

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Mazraat es-Siyyad is located in the Byblos District in the Mount Lebanon Governorate. It is 58 kilometers north of the capital Beirut. It spans an area of 6.65 square kilometres (2.57 sq mi) and stands at an altitude of 1,250 m (4,100 ft) above sea level. The municipal area of Mazraat es-Siyad includes the hamlets of Abboud, Mazraat er-Rmeileh, and Sharbineh.[2][10]

Etymology

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Mazraat es-Siyad translates to "Farm of the Siyyad" from Arabic, in reference to Siyyad an attribute of the al-Husseini family. The Siyyad (Masters) are Shia Muslims recognized as descendants of the prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn ibn Ali.[11][2][9] The hamlet of Abboud is named after Abboud Gharios Ouais, a forefather of the Gharios family, and Mazraat er-Rmeileh is so named after the nature of the terrain which is composed of sandstone.[9]

Demographics

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Saint Abdas and Our Lady churches in 2016

The population lives in a total of 220 houses in the town. There were 1,250 voters from Mazraat es-Siyad registered in 2005.[2] The population is predominantly Maronite and Shia.[10] The largest families in order of size according to the 2014 election records are Al-Husseini, Karkaba, Gharios, Obeid, Acar, Zaarour, Barakat, Bou Salman, Karam, Ziadé, Medawar, and El-Khoury.[12][2]

Government

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Mazraat es-Siyad municipality was established in 2004.[13][14] The municipal council currently has twelve members.[2] In addition to the municipal council, Mazraat es-Siyad has a three-member mayoral council headed by a mukhtar (headman).[2]

Economy

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Agriculture, namely pomology is the main economic activity in the Byblos highlands. Mazraet es-Siyad has many natural water sources, fertile soil and arable land. Residents also depend on permanent jobs, as there are 15 small commercial and industrial companies, in addition to two hotels, the Shangri-La and the Monte Carlo.[2]

Landmarks

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Sites and features of Mazraet es-Siyad
Top: Ancient rock-cut vat used in wine pressing
Bottom: Walking trail bordering Iron ore-rich hillside

Mazraet es-Siyad has numerous ancient archaeological relics, such as the remains of old vernacular houses, rock cut wine presses, and historical religious buildings. The town's main sites are Mar Abda (Saint Abdas) Church, a Maronite church founded in 1708 by the Gharios family. Mar Abda was significantly expanded during later centuries. The Mazra’at As-Siyyad Mosque, a historical Shia Muslim mosque built in line with a decision by Mutasarrıf Wasa Pasha (ruled 1883–1892). Saydet an-Najat (Our Lady of Salvation), the town's second Maronite Church. The two churches are located at the opposite sides of the glen that bisects the town.[2][10]

El-Mathkoube cave

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El-Mathkoube (مغارة المَثقوبة, 'The Perforated Cave') is a natural cavern located at an altitude of 1,690 m (5,540 ft) above sea level in the upper reaches of the town. Its name describes its unique feature—a large opening in its ceiling, approximately 15 m (49 ft) high. This hole allows snow to accumulate inside the cave, where it persists for extended periods, often lasting until the summer months. Historically, locals made use of this natural refrigeration. The cave attracts mountain climbers and hiking enthusiasts, and is occasionally used as a shelter for livestock.[15]

Culture

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Festivities

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Mazraat es-Siyad celebrates the Feast of the Lady of Salvation (Saydet an-Najat) on 8 September, and Saint Abdas on 31 August with traditional dinners and festivities.[2]

Notable residents

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Notes

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  1. ^ During the early Ottoman period, Lebanon was divided into two districts, or mu'amalat: the Mu’amalat of Tripoli, which extended from the borders of Tripoli to the Mu’amalatayn with its capital in Jbeil and was part of the Eyalet of Tripoli; and the Mu’amalat extending from the Mu’amalatayn to the Awali River in the south, with its capital in Deir al-Qamar, which belonged to the Eyalet of Sidon.[5]

References

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  1. ^ United States Geographic Names Division (1970). Lebanon, Official Standard Names Approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Geographic Names Division. p. 464.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Localiban (15 June 2015). "Mazraat Es Siyad". Localiban, Administrative Divisions of Lebanon. Data Center on Local Development in Lebanon. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  3. ^ Suwaydān, Aḥmad Maḥmūd (1988). كسروان وبلاد جبيل: بين القرنين الرابع عشر والثامن عشر من عصر المماليك إلى عصر المتصرفية - Kasruwān wa-bilād Jubayl: bayna al-qarnayn al-rābiʻ ʻashr wa-al-thāmin ashr min ʻaṣr al-mamālīk ilʹa ʻaṣr al-mutaṣarrifīyah [Keserwan and Bilad Jbeil: Between the Fourteenth and Eighteenth Centuries, from the Mamluk to the Mutasarrifiyya Era] (in Arabic). Muʾassasat Dār al-Kitāb al-Ḥadīth.
  4. ^ Amro, Yusuf Mohammed (2020). "ملحق تاريخي: الحلقة المنسيّة في تاريخ محافظة كسروان وجبيل (1)". مجلة إطلالة جبيلية (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  5. ^ al-Shidiaq 1859, pp. 19–22.
  6. ^ al-Shidiaq 1859, p. 22.
  7. ^ al-Shidyaq, Tannus; al-Bustani, Butrus (1859). أخبار الأعيان في جبل لبنان [The notables' news in Mount Lebanon] (in Arabic). p. 22.
  8. ^ Fāḍil, Wadīʻ Abī (1909). دليل لبنان لسنة ١٩٠٩ [The guide of Lebanon for the year 1909] (in Arabic). Egypt: Maṭbaʻat al-Maʻārif. p. 42.
  9. ^ a b c Mufarrej, Tony (2002). موسوعة قرى ومدن لبنان [Encyclopedia of villages and cities of Lebanon] (in Arabic). Vol. 20. Beirut: Nobilis. pp. 95–96.
  10. ^ a b c Jbeil Daily News (2023). "مزرعة السياد". www.jbeildailynews.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  11. ^ Ḥunayn, Riyāḍ (1986). أسماء قرى ومدن وأماكن لبنانية في روايات شعبية - Asmāʼ qurá wa-mudun wa-amākin Lubnānīyah fī riwāyāt shaʻbīyah [Names of Lebanese villages, cities and places in popular narratives] (in Arabic). Dār Laḥd Khāṭir. p. 201.
  12. ^ Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities (2014). "أسماء العائلات في بلدة مزرعة السياد، قضاء جبيل، محافظة جبل لبنان في لبنان". إعْرَفْ لبنان. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  13. ^ Jbeil Files staff (29 June 2011). "نبذة تاريخية عن نشأة البلديات في قضاء جبيل". تاريخ جبيل (in Arabic). Jbeil Files. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  14. ^ Lebanese University (2004). "انشاء بلدية في بلدة مزرعة السياد قضاء جبيل-محافظة جبل لبنان". Lebanese University Center for Research in Legal Informatics. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  15. ^ Reaidy, Gaby (2022). "مغارة المَثقوبة – مزرعة السِيّاد". gabyreaidy.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  16. ^ القصيفي, ايلي (7 September 2012). "قرطبـا تتقـن لعبـة الجمـال" (in Arabic). Assafir. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
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